President: Mr Bantu Holomisa, MP
Bantubonke Holomisa was born the son of Tembu Chief Bazindlovu Holomisa on 25 July 1955 in the Mqanduli district of Transkei. After attending the Upper Ngqungqu Primary School in Mqanduli, he proceeded to the Jongilizwe College for the Sons of Chiefs and Headmen in Tsolo, Transkei, where he matriculated in 1975. Apart from the usual matriculation subjects, he obtained an additional Diploma in Leadership, with the subjects of current events, conduct of public affairs, public administration, English, African law (then called Bantu law, using the university-prescribed textbook by Seymore on the subject), typing and office routine.
Major General (Retired) Bantu Holomisa co-founded the United Democratic Movement in 1997 with Mr Roelf Meyer. Mr Holomisa serves as the UDM’s President.
For a more detailed CV, click here
Deputy President: Mr Nqabayomzi Kwankwa, MP
Mr NLS Kwankwa was born and bred in Middledrift (now officially known as iXesi) in the Eastern Cape and he grew up in a politically inclined family. He was formerly a member of the African National Congress (ANC), the ANC Youth League, and he participated in South African Student Congress (SASCO) activities although he prioritised his academic work over political activities. Mr Kwankwa attended the University of the Western Cape, where he obtained a Business Administration Degree.
He left the ANC in 2006 when he joined the United Democratic Movement (UDM) in 2007. Mr Kwankwa started his career in the UDM as a member of the support staff until he was elected as a Member of Parliament in 2013. He then became the Chief Whip of the party in 2014, and he had been the youngest Member of Parliament during that term and the youngest Chief Whip in the history of the democratic South Africa.
He completed a Post Graduate Degree in Economics from the University of South Africa, and a management executive programme at the University of Pretoria, as well as financial management.
In 2015 he won the Outstanding International Leadership Award for his role in spreading the anti-xenophobia message, awarded by the Extraordinary People Awards. The award has since been named after him.
Mr Kwankwa founded the African Parliamentarians Association for Human Rights (AfriPAHR) in 2017, which is a non-partisan network of parliamentarians from the African continent that works to advance democracy, freedom of religion or belief and human rights to build a fairer and inclusive Africa, through diplomacy and fostering strategic alliances between nations. He currently serves as the Chair of the AfriPAHR Steering Committee.
He was re-elected as a Member of Parliament in 2019 and still serves as the UDM’s Chief Whip in Parliament. He serves on the Standing Committee on Appropriations, Standing Committee on Finance, Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies, Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises and Portfolio Committee on Small Business Development.
Mr Kwankwa is the Deputy President of the UDM.
National Chairperson: Mr Bongani Msomi
Bongani Msomi was born in Durban and matriculated at Swelihle High School in Umlazi, KwaZulu Natal. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree, Senior Teacher’s Diploma and Bachelor of Education (B-ED) from the University of Zululand. He also holds a Project Management Diploma from Damelin.
As a student he became involved in politics and was tasked to build and organise several progressive organisations. Mr Msomi is a co-founder member of the UDM and has served as the leader of the Province in KwaZulu-Natal for many years. In 2004 he became a member of the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature (MPL) until 2009. In this period he served in many portfolio committees as well as being chairperson of the Sports and Recreation portfolio committee.
In 2005 he was elected as the Party’s National Chairperson and has served as the UDM’s Secretary General for a number of years. Mr Msomi currently serves as the Party’s National Chairperson
National Deputy Chairperson: Mr Humphrey Nobongoza
Humphrey Nobongoza was born in Tsomo and matriculated at the Cofimvaba High School in Cofimvaba, Eastern Cape. He is busy with a BA degree at the University of Walter Sisulu University and has earned a Diploma in Public Service Management from the Swedish Institute of Public Service Management. He has several years’ experience in the public service in various positions and ended his career as the Chief Director in the Office of the Premier of the Eastern Cape.
He has served as the Party’s National Chairperson, as well as Secretary General, but currently fulfills the duty a Deputy National Chairperson.
Secretary General: Mr Yongama Zigebe
Yongama Zigebe is an award-winning young politician having won the South African Politicians Award, Young Leader Award in 2017 up against Honourable Mkhuleko Hlengwa, Mduduzi Manana and Mbuyiseni Ndlozi. A recipient of the Believers Love World Southern Africa Awards, Most Influential Young Person of 2018. Nominee for the 2019 Young African Leaders (YALS) Awards on the Male Politician of the Year Award alongside winner Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu known as (Bobbi Wine) President of National Unity Platform an opposition party in Uganda. A Royal Commonwealth Fellow for the Queens Young African Leaders 2018 to 2021. Yongama Zigebe is a Non-Executive Director on the JCPZ board of directors in 2021 and 2023.
Yongama became involved in various projects from when he was in high school. He joined Get Real Youth with Mission in 2003 as a part time administrator for holiday school programmes, where they gather young children on the streets and encourage them to play sports and indigenous games, engage them in edutainment activities in order to curb drug and substances abuse, teenage pregnancy, HIV and AIDS and all other social ills facing young people. His involvement and passion for change earned him a seat in the organisation’s board within a year of joining the organisation.
He currently serves as the UDM Secretary General.
Deputy Secretary General: Ms Zandile Phiri
Zandile Phiri hails from Mdantsane in the Eastern Cape. She was a student leader during her time of studying towards a national diploma at the Walter Sisulu University (WSU) in the Eastern Cape and served in various roles on the Students Representatives Council (SRC). She is a recipient of the Best Debate Team award at WSU. Ms Phiri is also a recipient of the Best Organiser award, SRC Academic Excellence Award and the Outstanding Leader Award.
She earned a National Diploma in IT Development Software from the WSU, as well as an Advanced Diploma in IT Application Software. Ms Phiri is a fledgeling software guru who is applying her programming knowledge with a variety of coding languages such as C++, JavaScript, RStudio, Python, SQL, VB-net, Android Studio, GitHub, HTML, CSS and PHP.
She currently serves as a Deputy Secretary General of the UDM.
National Treasurer: Ms Thandi Nontenja
Thandi Nontenja grew up in Mount Frere in the Eastern Cape and matriculated at the Colana High School in Mount Frere. Cllr Nontenja has several diplomas in bookkeeping, accounting and business management, as well as political leadership. She ended her career in the business sector when she was elected as a city councillor for the United Democratic Movement of the Johannesburg Metropolitan Council in 2006, 2011 and 2016. Cllr Nontenja has been very active in women’s organisations and is a member of People Opposing Women Abuse.
She currently serves as the National Treasurer of the UDM.
National Fundraiser: Mr Lennox Gaehler
Lennox Gaehler was born in Mthatha and received his education at Excelsior High School in Mthatha, Eastern Cape. He has qualified himself with a Diploma in Building Industry and, over the past thirty years, has become a highly successful businessperson in the construction industry.
He has served the United Democratic Movement as Chairperson of the Eastern Cape Provincial Structure in the past, and currently serves as the UDM’s National Fundraiser.
National Organiser: Mr Nyaniso Mfihlo
Nyaniso Hamilton Mfihlo was born in Engcobo in the Eastern Cape on 12 August 1973. He matriculated at Gwarubana High School in 1994. He studied journalism at Birnam College and has obtained a National Diploma in Journalism. Mr Mfihlo worked for Sowetan newspaper as well as an Organiser with the National Freedom Party. He possesses a CAF B Coaching License, coached in Swaziland and in Motsepe League in South Africa.
He currently serves as the National Organiser of United Democratic Movement.
Deputy National Organiser: Mr Msawenkosi Dumela
Msawenkosi Dumela was born and raised in Mount Frere, in a village called Ngwetsheni in the Eastern Cape. He went to Rode High School in Mount Ayliff. He studied Information Technology and Computer Science at King Sabata Dalindyebo FET College in Mthatha, for a period of three years. At the same college he also completed an International Computer Driving License and a Networking Professional short-term A+ Professional course, based on Developing Skills and Creating Human Capital at Loyiso ICT Consulting in Mthatha.
Mr Dumela was involved in the Student Representatives Council as the Organiser with the South African Student Congress and an outstanding youth leader with the African National Congress. In 2012 he moved to the North West, he stayed in Wonderkop near to Marikana and he attended the Bible School at Global School of Ministry in Brits and he graduated as a pastor. He also became active in the community. Because of a love and passion for politics he was elected to the following portfolios:
• Ward Committee – Community Development under Madibeng Local Municipality in Brits, which communicates between the municipality and the people through the ward councillor to hold the ward councillor accountable on the fulfilment of their duties.
• Marikana Peace Building Team – The Co-Founder, Reconciliations and Co-ordinator.
• Community Leader – Crime Prevention Services
• Community Policing Forums were set up to involve all local stakeholders and key organisations in local policing. They meet regularly with the officers in charge of the local police station and discuss problems and find solutions to crime in the area.
• Mahlasedi Foundation – GLC Community Co-ordinator, helping with food, better education and bursaries.
• Kagisano Peace Building Ambassadors – Gender based violence and youth activities as well as physical training campaigns. He currently serves as an organiser.
• Tswelopele Wonderkop Multipurpose Primary Co-operative Group Limited as the Organiser.
• Social Developments – Based in Madibeng Local. The Purpose of what they are doing in the Community working hand in hand with stakeholders is to provide social protection services and lead government’s efforts to forge partnerships through which vulnerable individuals, groups and communities become capable and active participants in the development of themselves and society.
In 2013, when the Economic Freedom Fighters was introduced to Marikana, Mr Dumela joined the party and immediately was elected as a Branch Chairperson. Secondly, he served as Regional Organiser for the period of four years, as well as serving on the Central Command Team as an additional member. In 2017 he joined International Ministers Fellowship – South Africa and was ordained as a pastor through the renowned Global School of Ministry under the leadership of Apostle GM Honono. He currently serves as an associate pastor at Maximum Harvest Ministries based in Marikana (Wonderkop).
In 2021 Mr Dumela joined the United Democratic Movement (UDM). He was elected as a Branch Secretary. He started on the Ground Recruitment Team and in two months the UDM won PR Councillor’s seat and got one seat in Madibeng Municipality. He served as a Secretary of the Task Team in the province and works hand-in-hand with the team to build the UDM in all four regions in the North West i.e. Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati, Dr Kenneth Kaunda, Bojanala Platinum and Ngaka Modiri Molema.
At present he is serves as the UDM’s National Deputy Organiser.