Zilindile Vena

Zilindile Vena is a South African politician who has been a member of the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature since 2023. He is the provincial chairperson of the Economic Freedom Fighters.

Zilindile Vena
MPL
Provincial Chairperson of the Economic Freedom Fighters
Assumed office
6 November 2022
DeputyMlamli Makhetha
Nokuthula Mlokoti
Preceded byYazini Tetyana
Member of the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature
Assumed office
28 February 2023
Personal details
Political partyEconomic Freedom Fighters
ProfessionPolitician

Political career

Vena was elected as a councillor for the Economic Freedom Fighters in Nelson Mandela Bay in 2016. In October 2018, Vena unsuccessfully stood for provincial chairperson of the EFF at the party's provincial conference.[1] He was elected to the EFF's Central Command Team at the party's National Peoples Assembly in December 2019.[2]

Vena resigned as a councillor of Nelson Mandela Bay and was suspended from party activities in February 2020 after he was accused of raping a Nelson Mandela University student.[3] Vena pleaded not guilty in February 2021, and he was acquitted of the charge in July 2022.[4][5]

Vena was elected provincial chairperson of the EFF in November 2022, defeating incumbent Yazini Tetyana by 33 votes.[6] He was sworn in as a member of the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature on 28 February 2023, succeeding Tetyana who resigned in January.[7]

References
  1. "EFF targets pupils voting for first time". DispatchLIVE. Retrieved 2023-03-09.
  2. Cele, S’thembile. "EFF elects 40-member central command team". City Press. Retrieved 2023-03-09.
  3. "EFF councillor accused of raping NMU student resigns". HeraldLIVE. Retrieved 2023-03-09.
  4. "Former EFF councillor pleads not guilty to rape". SowetanLIVE. Retrieved 2023-03-09.
  5. "Fresh start for Zilindile Vena after rape acquittal". HeraldLIVE. Retrieved 2023-03-09.
  6. "'It's a failure to all of you': Malema slams EFF branches for not electing women in top five leadership". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 2023-03-09.
  7. "Bhisho legislature welcomes three new MPLs". DispatchLIVE. Retrieved 2023-03-09.
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