Umbono Nomnqophiso

uMongameli

Bantubonke Holomisa was born to Tembu Chief Bazindlovu Holomisa on 25 July 1955 in the Mqanduli district of Transkei. After attending Upper Ngqungqu Primary School in Mqanduli, he proceeded to Jongilizwe College for the Sons of Chiefs and Headmen in Tsolo, Transkei, where he matriculated in 1975.

In addition to the usual matriculation subjects, he obtained a Diploma in Leadership covering current imisitho, conduct of public affairs, public administration, English, African law, typing, and iofisi routine.

Major General (Retired) Bantu Holomisa co-founded the United Democratic Umbutho in 1997 with Mr Roelf Meyer.

Mr Holomisa serves as the UDM's President. He was again elected as a Member of Parliament in the uNyulo lukaZwelonke nolwePhondo lwango-2024s and was appointed Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans in the Government of National Unity.

USekela Mongameli

Mr NLS Kwankwa was born and bred in Middledrift (now officially known as iXesi) in the Eastern Cape and grew up in a politically inclined family. He was formerly a member of the African National Congress (ANC) and the ANC Youth League, and participated in Mzantsi Afrikan Student Congress (SASCO) activities, although he prioritised his academic work. Mr Kwankwa attended the University of the Western Cape, where he obtained a Business Administration Degree.

He left the ANC in 2006 and 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 became the party's Chief Whip in 2014, and was the youngest Member of Parliament during that term and the youngest Chief Whip in the history of democratic Mzantsi Afrika.

He completed a Postgraduate Degree in Economics from the University of Mzantsi Afrika, 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 Abantu Awards. The award has since been named after him.

Mr Kwankwa founded the African Parliamentarians Association for Human Amalungelo (AfriPAHR) in 2017, a non-partisan network of parliamentarians from across Afrika that advances idemokrasi, freedom of religion or belief, and human amalungelo through diplomacy and strategic alliances. He currently serves as Chair of the AfriPAHR Steering Committee.

He was re-elected as a Member of Parliament in 2019 while serving as the UDM's Chief Whip EPalamente, and again in 2024. He currently serves as a full-time member of the Portfolio Committee on Electricity and Energy and the Standing Committee on Appropriations, and as an alternate on the Social Development Portfolio Committee.

Mr Kwankwa is the Deputy uMongameli we-UDM.

Kazwelonke Parliament

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 imisitho, 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 iofisi routine.

Email: jana@udm.org.za

Kazwelonke Parliament

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 Mzantsi Afrikan 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 Mzantsi Afrika.

He completed a Post Graduate Degree in Economics from the University of Mzantsi Afrika, 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 Abantu Awards. The award has since been named after him.

Mr Kwankwa founded the African Parliamentarians Association for Human Amalungelo (AfriPAHR) in 2017, which is a non-partisan network of parliamentarians from the African continent that works to advance idemokrasi, freedom of religion or belief and human amalungelo to build a fairer and inclusive Afrika, 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 Ilungu of Parliament in 2019 and 2024. He currently serves as a full-time ilungu of the Portfolio Committee on Electricity and Energy and the Standing Committee on Appropriations. Additionally, he serves as an alternate on the Social Development Portfolio Committee.

Mr Kwankwa is the Deputy uMongameli we-UDM and the Party Leader of the UDM EPalamente.

Email: nkwankwa@parliament.gov.za

Kazwelonke Assembly

Thandi Nontenja grew up in Mount Frere in the Eastern Cape and matriculated at the Colana High School in Mount Frere. Ms 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 Umbutho of the Johannesburg Metropolitan Council in 2006, 2011 and 2016 and was appointed municipal public accounts committee (Mpac) chairperson for several iminyaka. Ms Nontenja has been very active in amanina’s organisations and is a ilungu of Abantu Opposing Amanina Abuse.

In 2024 she was elected as a Ilungu of Parliament for the UDM. Ms Nontenja is a full-time ilungu of the Portfolio Committees on Defence and Military Veterans, as well as Amanina, Children, and Abantu with Disabilities. In addition, she is an alternate on the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education and the Standing Committee on Public Accounts.

She currently serves as the Kazwelonke Treasurer of the UDM and the Party’s Chief Whip in the Kazwelonke Assembly.

Email: thandi@udm.org.za

Kazwelonke Council of Provinces

Matthewis Mandla Peter is a dedicated public servant and advocate for community upliftment through economic development, education, and the arts. As a permanent delegate in the Kazwelonke Council of Provinces, he represents the Eastern Cape and serves on key committees, including the Programme, Rules, Public Infrastructure, and Cooperative Ulawulo committees. His focus is on improving public infrastructure and ulawulo, especially in rural and underrepresented areas.

Mandla’s leadership journey began at Jabavu High School in Alice, and his education in Business Planning in Agriculture at the University of Pretoria reflects his deep commitment to agriculture and economic empowerment. He is also a graduate of the OR Tambo School of Leadership.

An entrepreneur, he has worked in sectors from retail to the petroleum industry, as well as providing affordable housing in his community. His passion for music has iqhutywa his ulutsha engagement initiatives, using music as a tool for social change and empowerment. Additionally, Mandla’s love for sports, including rugby and soccer, has been integral in promoting ulutsha development, emphasizing teamwork, discipline, and community spirit.

In the past, Mandla served as a spokesperson for NAFU and NAFCOC in the Eastern Cape, advocating for the interests of small-scale farmers and businesses. Today, he remains committed to creating sustainable opportunities for economic growth and development in Mzantsi Afrika’s marginalised communities.

Eastern Cape Yephondo Legislature

Mr Gaehler serves on the Human Settlements, Transport, Finance and Yephondo Expenditure, Rules, as well as Law Review Portfolio Committees of the Eastern Cape Legislature.

Eastern Cape Yephondo Legislature

Mr Mcotsho serves on the Legislature Oversight Committee, the Standing Committee on Public Participation, Petitions and Education, as well as the Portfolio Committees on Co-operative Ulawulo and Traditional Affairs, Health and Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism.

Eastern Cape Yephondo Legislature

Ms Zinti serves on Standing Committee on Public Accounts and Amanina’s Caucus, as well as the Portfolio Committees on Iofisi of the Premier, and Rural Development and Agrarian Reform in the Eastern Cape Legislature.