Ngrayi Ngwenya

Michael "Ngrayi" Ngwenya is a South African politician from Mpumalanga. He was Regional Chairperson of the African National Congress (ANC) in Ehlanzeni, Mpumalanga from 2011 to 2019, in which capacity he was an influential ally of Premiers David Mabuza and Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane. In July 2021, he was suspended from the party for five years because of his role in organising a political rally in support of former President Jacob Zuma. Nicknamed 'Lomdzala', Ngwenya joined the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in June 2023. Immediately after Joining EFF, the ANC offices in Drikoppies, Mpumalanga rebranded from the traditional ANC colours to EFF colours and logo.

Ngrayi Ngwenya
Born
Michael Ngwenya
NationalitySouth African
OccupationPolitician
Political partyAfrican National Congress, Economic Freedom Fighters

ANC Regional Chairperson: 2011–2019

Ngwenya was elected as Regional Chairperson of the ANC's Ehlanzeni branch in 2011 with the support of David Mabuza, who was the Premier of Mpumalanga and Provincial Chairperson of the Mpumalanga ANC.[1][2] He held that position until mid-2019, when the branch was disbanded in preparation for a merger. He was viewed as Mabuza's "right-hand man".[3]

In September 2013, Ngwenya was convicted of assaulting politician Collen Sedibe and sentenced to pay a R1,000 fine.[4] The charges arose from an incident during an ANC meeting on 18 April, at which Ngwenya and another man had punched and kicked Sedibe after a disagreement; the incident also led to Sedibe's expulsion from the ANC.[4]

At another political event, held in Nkomazi in November 2018 during the ANC's 2019 general election campaign, Ngwenya was allegedly again involved in a violent confrontation with other ANC members. Faith Makumo laid criminal charges against him, alleging that he had stabbed her.[5] He appeared in court in August 2018 but the trial was postponed.[6]

Alleged assault of Lindiwe Ntshalintshali

In July 2019, violence broke out at an ANC meeting called to discuss a decision to disband the Ehlanzeni and Bohlabela regional branches in order to amalgamate them into a single branch; acting ANC Provincial Secretary Lindiwe Ntshalintshali sustained minor injuries before the police dispersed the crowd with rubber bullets.[7] After Ntshalintshali laid criminal charges against him, Ngwenya was suspended from the ANC.[3][6]

Although an application to reverse his suspension in the Pretoria High Court failed,[8] Ngwenya's membership was restored in October, when the ANC National Disciplinary Committee acquitted him of misconduct.[9] Ntshalintshali continued to maintain that Ngwenya had assaulted her and said in the aftermath, "The ANC cannot claim to fight gender-based violence while they cannot protect us who are inside the organisation."[10] She also raised questions about the neutrality of the ANC disciplinary process, calling it "highly managed" and arguing that one of the disciplinary committee's members, Bongani Bongo, was personally friendly with Ngwenya.[10][11]

Suspension from the ANC: 2021–present

With David Mabuza, Ngwenya was viewed as a key supporter of Premier Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane's bid to succeed Mabuza as ANC Provincial Chairperson.[6][9][8] He endorsed Mtsweni-Tsipane publicly at an early stage of the contest in June 2018.[12] In 2019, as the Mpumalanga ANC prepared to hold various elective conferences, Ngwenya was caught on video handing out cash to an audience at a party event; when he was reported to the ANC's headquarters at Luthuli House, Ngwenya denied that he was buying votes, saying that he had given the money to people who would not be delegates to the elective conferences.[13]

In July 2021, Ngwenya was suspended from the ANC with immediate effect "for a number of acts which appear to be in conflict with the constitution, values, principles and traditions of the ANC".[14] The previous weekend, Ngwenya had attended a rally at the Nkandla homestead of former President Jacob Zuma, who had been sentenced to prison for contempt of court. The ANC said that Ngwenya had brought the ANC into disrepute with an "inflammatory speech" in support of Zuma, and that he had also contravened COVID-19 regulations by organising the transport of people to the rally.[15] His suspension would last five years, until 2026.[16]

Ngwenya's suspension entailed that he was not eligible to stand as a candidate when the Ehlanzeni ANC (now including Bohlabela) elected a new leadership in April 2022, and Jackie Macie was elected as Regional Chairperson instead, defeating the slate of candidates aligned to Ngwenya and Gillion Mashego.[17][18] In February 2022, Ngwenya told a local radio station that "I am not part of anything that involves the ANC" and that he was focusing on his business career.[19] However, he remained an influential figure in Mpumalanga politics.[20] He also remained a key supporter of Mabuza, who was expected to stand for the ANC presidency or deputy presidency at the party's 53rd National Conference in 2023,[21] and he claimed that the ANC had suspended him precisely in order to thwart Mabuza's rise.[16]

References
  1. "ANC regional conference still in the balance". News24. 6 October 2011. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  2. Yende, Sizwe Sama (18 July 2021). "Ngrayi Ngwenya: A man of great influence". City Press. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  3. Yende, Sizwe Sama (4 August 2019). "Blow for premier as ANC suspends Mpumalanga kingmaker for alleged assault". City Press. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  4. "No disciplinary action yet against Mpumalanga ANC chair convicted of assault". News24. 11 September 2013. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  5. "Mpumalanga ANC investigates weekend violence". SABC News. 19 November 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  6. "Setback blow for DD's chosen one". The Mail & Guardian. 15 August 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  7. Mabena, Sipho (19 July 2019). "Meeting descends into chaos as Mpumalanga ANC members attack official". The Citizen. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  8. Mabena, Sipho (13 September 2019). "No reprieve from high court for controversial ANC Mpumalanga chair". The Citizen. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  9. "Mabuza ally off the hook for Mpumalanga ANC assault". The Mail & Guardian. 3 October 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  10. Yende, Sizwe Sama (8 October 2019). "Questions raised as disciplinary committee acquits ANC heavyweight accused of punching comrade". City Press. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  11. "Ntshalintshali disappointed at ANC DC findings". 013News. 9 October 2019. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  12. "Mpumalanga premier in race for ANC chair". Sowetan. 22 June 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  13. "ANC leader doles out dosh ahead of elective conference". The Mail & Guardian. 7 November 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  14. "ANC heavyweight is suspended". Lowvelder. 11 August 2021. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  15. Khumalo, Jabulane (10 July 2021). "ANC Mpumalanga suspends Ngrayi Ngwenya with immediate effect". MP Mirror. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  16. Yende, Sizwe Sama (16 May 2022). "'Whether they like it or not, DD Mabuza will be president' – former Ehlanzeni chairperson". City Press. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  17. "Muzi Chirwa's camp makes a clean sweep at Gert Sibande conference". 013NEWS. 11 April 2022. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  18. Yende, Sizwe Sama (11 April 2022). "Mandla Ndlovu consolidates power in Mpumalanga after clean sweep". City Press. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  19. "Ngrayi Ngwenya: "I'm no longer with ANC"". 013NEWS. 10 February 2022. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  20. Yende, Sizwe Sama (6 February 2022). "ANC strongman back to haunt the party". City Press. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  21. Masuabi, Queenin (26 May 2022). "Fierce contestation expected for ANC deputy president position". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
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