Gauteng has been thrown into mourning following the death of prominent politician and former MEC Mzikayifani Elias “Mzi” Khumalo after a short illness.
Khumalo died on Monday, August 10, according to the Gauteng government.
At the time of his death, he was serving as Chairperson of the Gauteng Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), where he played a key role in monitoring local government affairs across the province.
His political career also included serving as Executive Mayor of Rand West City Local Municipality until 2019. He was later appointed MEC for COGTA, e-Government, Research and Development.
Reacting to his death, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi described Khumalo as a dedicated public servant whose absence would be deeply felt, particularly as municipalities prepare for the Local Government Elections scheduled for November.
Lesufi said Khumalo understood public service as a responsibility to listen to citizens, respond to their concerns and work towards improving communities.
His death has also come at a significant time for Gauteng’s local government sector, with the province preparing for another election cycle.
Through the COGTA portfolio committee, Khumalo was involved in oversight of municipal governance, traditional affairs and compliance with local government requirements. He also visited municipalities, engaged with local government officials and monitored service delivery across communities.
Lesufi described his passing as particularly painful because Khumalo was expected to continue contributing to the oversight of municipalities ahead of the elections.
The Premier expressed condolences to Khumalo’s family, colleagues, friends and others who knew him, saying his years of public service had left a meaningful legacy.
Khumalo’s death brings an end to the career of a politician who spent years involved in Gauteng’s local government and public administration, leaving behind contributions to the communities and institutions he served.
