Mxolisi Kaunda

Thomas Mxolisi Kaunda (born 13 September 1972) is a South African politician from KwaZulu-Natal serving as the Mayor of the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality since 2019. He was the KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison from 2016 to 2019 and a member of the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature from 2009 to 2019. Kaunda is a member of the ruling African National Congress (ANC).[1][2][3]

Mxolisi Kaunda

Councillor
Mayor of eThekwini
Assumed office
5 September 2019
DeputyBelinda Scott
Preceded byZandile Gumede
KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison
In office
7 June 2016 – 4 September 2019
PremierSihle Zikalala
Willies Mchunu
Preceded byWillies Mchunu
Succeeded byBheki Ntuli
Member of the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature
In office
6 May 2009 – 4 September 2019
Personal details
Born
Thomas Mxolisi Kaunda

(1972-09-13) 13 September 1972
Inanda, Natal Province, South Africa
NationalitySouth African
Political partyAfrican National Congress
Spouse(s)Nomzamo
Children4
Alma materUniversity of South Africa
University of the Witwatersrand

Early life and education

Kaunda was born on 13 September 1972, in the town of Inanda outside Durban in the Natal Province. He became involved in politics at the age of fifteen, as he joined the Congress of South African Students (COSAS). He matriculated from Intshisekelo High School and then went on to study at the University of South Africa, where he achieved a Diploma in Governance and Leadership. He later studied at the University of the Witwatersrand and obtained an Advanced Diploma in Advanced Governance and Public Leadership.[4]

Political career

In 2000, Kaunda was elected as a ward councillor of the newly established eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, a position he held until the 2006 municipal election when he became a PR councillor of the municipality. He served on the municipal Economic Development and Markets Sub-Committee.[4][5]

He was deployed to the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature following the 2009 general election. In his first term as an MPL, he served as Chairperson of the Transport Portfolio Committee. He was a member of the Finance, Community Safety and Liaison committees. Kaunda was also an alternate member of the Co-Operative Governance and Traditional Affairs committees.[4][5]

Following his re-election in 2014, he remained Chairperson of the Transport Committee and became a member of the legislature's Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, and Community Safety and Liaison committees.[4][5]

In June 2016, newly elected Premier Willies Mchunu appointed Kaunda as the MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison.[6] Sihle Zikalala was elected Premier in May 2019, and he retained Kaunda in his post.[7]

In addition to holding public office, Kaunda has also held multiple ANC party leadership positions. He was elected to the post of ANCYL Provincial Secretary in 2004 and served until 2008 when he was appointed ANCYL Provincial Chairperson, a post he held until 2010. He has been a member of the ANC's Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) since 2012. Kaunda is also a Provincial Working Committee (PWC) member.[4][5]

Mayor of eThekwini (2019–present)

In August 2019, after months of legal challenges and infighting controversies, the ANC KwaZulu-Natal branch officially recalled Zandile Gumede as Mayor of eThekwini on 13 August 2019.[8][9] Kaunda was seen as one of three frontrunners for the post alongside Nomusa Dube-Ncube and Nhlanhla Ngidi.[10] Kaunda was ultimately selected for the post on 22 August 2019.[11] Gumede tendered her resignation as mayor on 26 August 2019, but withdrew it on 29 August 2019.[12][13] This move from Gumede resulted in the monthly council sitting, which was supposed to elect new leadership, being delayed.[14] Gumede officially resigned on 3 September 2019.[15] Kaunda was elected Mayor of eThekwini on 5 September 2019.[16][17]

References
  1. "Meet KZN's new MECs". City Press - News24. 7 June 2016. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  2. Singh, Kaveel (22 August 2019). "ANC finally names new eThekwini and Msunduzi mayors". News24. Retrieved 28 August 2019. The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal has finally agreed on a new mayor-elect for the eThekwini metro - and it is current Transport MEC Mxolisi Kaunda.
  3. ANC says Gumede's resignation withdrawal 'unprecedented', eNCA, 29 August 2019. Retrieved on 29 August 2019.
  4. "About the MEC Mxolisi Thomas Kaunda: KwaZulu-Natal". KZNComSafety. Archived from the original on 1 April 2020. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  5. Kahla, Cheryl (22 August 2019). "Mxolisi Kaunda: Qualifications, CV and work history of eThekiwni's new mayor". The South African. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  6. Khoza, Amanda. ANC recalls 4 MECs in KZN cabinet reshuffle, News24, 6 June 2016. Retrieved on 30 August 2019.
  7. Harper, Paddy. Zikalala appoints youthful cabinet in KZN, Mail & Guardian, 27 May 2019. Retrieved on 30 August 2019.
  8. "Zandile Gumede, Themba Njilo officially out as ANC makes sweeping leadership changes". News24. 13 August 2019. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  9. Mkentane, Luyolo (13 August 2019). "ANC in KZN fires eThekwini mayor accused of corruption". BusinessLIVE. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  10. Tandwa, Lizeka (15 August 2019). "eThekwini to get new mayor next week - and these are the frontrunners". News24. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  11. Mkentane, Luyolo (22 August 2019). "New mayors for eThekwini and Msunduzi municipalities 'a plus for Ramaphosa'". BusinessDay. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  12. "Zandile Gumede's resignation received, says ANC KZN". News24. 26 August 2019. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  13. JUST IN: Zandile Gumede withdraws resignation, sets up showdown with ANC bosses. Retrieved on 30 August 2019.
  14. No mayoral chains just yet for Mxolisi Kaunda over 'outstanding' issue. Retrieved on 30 August 2019.
  15. eThekwini's new mayor Kaunda told by ANC to put needs of city first. Retrieved on 4 September 2019.
  16. It's finally official: Mxolisi Kaunda named as eThekwini mayor, TimesLIVE, 6 September 2019. Retrieved on 6 September 2019.
  17. New eThekwini mayor elected. Retrieved on 6 September 2019.
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