William Gumede

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William Gumede
Born
William Mervin Gumede

(1973-07-11) 11 July 1973 (age 51)
Alma mater University of the Witwatersrand
Occupations
  • Writer
  • political commentator
SpouseYlva Rodny-Gumede
Website williamgumede.com

William Mervin Gumede (born 11 July 1973) is a South African writer and public intellectual. He is known for his political commentary and his 2005 biography of Thabo Mbeki, Thabo Mbeki and the Battle for the Soul of the ANC.

Contents

Early life and education

Gumede was born on 11 July 1973. [1] He attended primary school on the Cape Flats and matriculated in 1988 at Ravensmead Senior Secondary School in Ravensmead. [1] He holds a master's degree from the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits). [1]

Career

Gumede is a long-time writer and commentator on South African politics. In 2006, there were rumors that he and several other political analysts had been "blacklisted" from appearing on the public broadcaster, the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), because they were overly critical of the incumbent African National Congress government. An independent investigation, led by Zwelakhe Sisulu and Gilbert Marcus, concluded that Gumede was not explicitly blacklisted, but that the SABC's head of news, Snuki Zikalala, had strongly insinuated to staff members that he disapproved of Gumede's commentary. [2] [3]

In August 2023, Gumede was named as the chairman of the negotiations toward the Multi-Party Charter for South Africa, a pre-electoral pact between several South African opposition parties ahead of the next year's general election. [4] [5] The parties said that he had been chosen because of his political neutrality, and he said that he accepted because he believed that cooperation among opposition parties could serve as a counterweight to the dominance of the ANC. [6] [7]

He is the founder of the Democracy Works Foundation and the Institute for Social Dialogue. Until 2025, he was also an associate professor at the Wits School of Governance in Johannesburg. [8]

Books

Gumede has written several books. The best known is his biography of Thabo Mbeki, first published in 2005 during Mbeki's presidency; [9] titled Thabo Mbeki and the Battle for the Soul of the ANC, it was a bestseller in South Africa. [10] In 2006, the Mail & Guardian printed allegations that the book relied on other sources without proper attribution, including by closely paraphrasing Mark Gevisser's rival biography of Mbeki. [11] Gumede strongly denied the allegations, pointing to his system of "indirect references" and saying that he was "the victim of an anonymous smear campaign". [12]

Personal life

Gumede is married to Ylva Rodny-Gumede, a Swedish journalist and academic who works at the University of Johannesburg. They have three sons. [13]

In early 2019, Gumede was diagnosed with stage IV lymphoma, which he treated with surgery and three years of chemotherapy. [14]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Mchunu, N. (2022). "William Gumede: Towering intellectual figure". The texture of dissent: defiant public intellectuals in South Africa. BestRed: 250–254.
  2. Groenewald, Yolandi (13 October 2006). "Inside the SABC blacklist report". The Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
  3. "No comment from SABC on 'blacklisting'". The Mail & Guardian. 11 October 2006. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
  4. Maliti, Soyiso (3 August 2023). "Professor William Gumede appointed to chair multiparty pact talks aimed at unseating ANC". News24. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
  5. Mbolekwa, Sisanda (3 August 2023). "Prof William Gumede to chair multiparty convention". Business Day. Retrieved 10 May 2025.
  6. Hunter, Qaanitah (4 August 2023). "Why William Gumede decided to take on role of chairing multi-party coalition talks". News24. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
  7. Davis, Rebecca (26 November 2023). "Ego vs country at the Multi-Party Charter". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
  8. Manjeya, Yamkeleka (24 July 2024). "Wits professor sees exciting opportunities in South Africa's new GNU". News24. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
  9. Brittain, Victoria (9 February 2008). "First among equals?". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 9 May 2025.
  10. "Analysis paralysis?". The Mail & Guardian. 8 June 2008. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
  11. Bower, Colin (12 May 2006). "(Another) author under fire". The Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
  12. "Gumede on Gumede". The Mail & Guardian. 1 June 2006. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
  13. "Prof Ylva Rodny-Gumede to take over the reins as UJ's Head of Internationalisation". University of Johannesburg News. 17 July 2019. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
  14. Schrieber, Sinesipho (7 August 2023). "'I thought I would not make it': Prof William Gumede on surviving stage 4 cancer and painful chemotherapy". Sunday Times. Archived from the original on 21 October 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2025.