Johannesburg – Professor William Gumede has been named as the Independent Chairperson of the Multi-Party National Convention.
The convention includes the Democratic Alliance (DA), Inkhata Freedom Party (IFP), Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus), ActionSA, United Independent Movement (UIM), and SNP.
On Thursday morning, the political parties exploring a multi-party “moonshot” agreement said they were “pleased to announce that Professor William Gumede has agreed to chair the National Convention”.
The convention will sit on 16 and 17 August 2023 at Emperor’s Palace in Kempton Park.
Professor Gumede is an independent chairperson of the process and is not affiliated to any of the participating parties.
“From the outset, this grouping of parties has understood the need for these talks to benefit from the wisdom and experience that is available in South Africa and too often ignored by political leaders who falsely believe they have a monopoly on solutions needed in South Africa,” the parties said in a joint statement.
“In considering Professor Gumede’s significant contributions to South Africa and various democracies around the world, it is evident that there is no South African who is better placed to guide our multi-party process.”
William Gumede is an Associate Professor at the School of Governance and former Convener, Political Economy, University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), and Founder of the Democracy Works Foundation.
Professor Gumede teaches a programme for MPs of the Commonwealth on how to manage their country’s Parliaments, ensure effective oversight of the executive and government entities, and how to conduct themselves ethically as MPs.
He also runs a course on public policy and economics, including how to put together the National Budget for MPs from all political parties in South Africa.
Professor Gumede mediated in several country civil and communal conflicts, including the eSwatini violent country conflict between the king and his allies and opposition parties ahead of the 2013 national elections.
He was the facilitator in the healing and reparation process between the mine, victims, and communities, following the Marikana Massacre in South Africa.
Professor Gumede advised several African governments on alternative approaches to hold violent belligerents accountable following civil wars, including the civil war between Christians and Muslims in the Central African Republic and the civil war in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
