Zanele Magwaza-Msibi: Gugu Gumede’s mom passes away

Zanele Magwaza-Msibi is the mother of actress Gugu Gumede. On Monday, her party revealed she passed away. Here's what we know.

zanele magwaza-msibi

Mother of actress Gugu Gumede and leader of the National Freedom Party (NFP) Zanele Magwaza-Msibi has passed away.

Zanele Magwaza-Msibi dies: Cause of death revealed

In a statement released by her political party on Monday, the 59-year-old’s death was linked to a cardiovascular attack, a medical condition she has struggled with since her first stroke in 2014.

NFP caucus leader Ahmed Munzoor Shaik-Emam confirmed that Gumede’s mom was recently admitted to a hospital in Durban after she fell ill.

“She was in the ICU for some time and unfortunately she succumbed to her illness on Monday morning. The party is left grieving her loss and our thoughts and prayers are with her family at this time,” Shaik-Emam told TimesLive.

Family spokesperson Canaan Mdletshe stated that plans were underway to finalise funeral arrangements and that more details would be revealed in due course.

“Ms Magwaza-Msibi was an exemplary leader, an activist and an advocate of our democracy. She lived her life fighting and championing the cause of the poor, vulnerable and downtrodden. She was a loved and greatly respected leader, whose passing leaves many at a loss.”

At the time this article was published, Gumede, a renowned actress, had not released a statement on the death of her mother.

What we know about Magwaza-Msibi

The 59-year-old has garnered a reputation as a very influential woman in KwaZulu-Natal’s (KZN) regional politics. Her political ideology was carved by the teachings of longtime leader of the IFP, Mangosuthu Buthelezi.

For 15 years, since 2000, Magwaza-Msibi served as mayor of the Zululand District Municipality, a role not suited for the faint-hearted.

In 2014, former president Jacob Zuma welcomed Magwaza-Msibi as Deputy Minister of Security and Technology, a position she happily accepted under the strict condition that she would be granted untethered anonymity.

Magwaza-Msibi saw a greater challenge at the NFP and she jumped ship, where she was taken in as the party’s leader. In 2016, however, the party was barred from participating in the general elections due to funding issues.

In response to this setback, Magwaza-Msibi focused her entire career on rebuilding the political identity of the party. Sadly, she would not live to see its full potential.

Here are some of the reactions we picked out on tributes that have poured in for Magwaza-Msibi: