Statement by Yongama Zigebe, Secretary General of the United Democratic Movement

Today at twelve noon, the United Democratic Movement (UDM) Secretary General, Mr Yongama Zigebe, was sworn in as a PR councillor in the City of Johannesburg.

This move comes after a vacancy in the Council was created when Ms Thandi Nontenja, UDM National Treasurer and MPAC Chairperson, was elected to the position of Member of Parliament in the National Assembly following the 2024 National and Provincial Elections. The UDM thanks Ms Nontenja for her years of admirable service as a councillor in the City of Johannesburg and wishes her well in her new position.

“I look forward to my new role as a councillor in the City of Johannesburg and will discharge my duties to the best of my ability,” said Mr Zigebe.

“I have a legacy of excellence and service to the people of Johannesburg to maintain,” he continued, adding, “It’s rubber to the road, learning the ropes of this Council, and engaging with the citizens of the City.”

Mr 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 was a Non-Executive Director on the JCPZ board of directors in 2021 and 2023.

He 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. Mr Zigebe’s involvement and passion for change earned him a seat in the organisation’s board within a year of joining the organisation.

Since the position of Secretary General of the UDM is a full-time, in-office position, UDM Deputy Secretary General Ms Zindile Phiri will act in Mr Zigebe’s stead.