ADeC leader Makhosi Khoza retires from politics

Following rumours about a month ago that she had resigned from her party, African Democratic Change (ADeC), Dr Makhosi Khoza has announced that she is stepping down from politics.

Khoza made the announcement of her retirement on her Facebook page, stating that she is leaving politics “in pursuit and in fulfilment of my deepest passion, conviction and mission in local governance and administration, education and elevation of African languages as those of prestige and prosperity.”

“As you may recall, when I resigned as a Member of Parliament I made it clear that I would devote my energy, talent, knowledge and skills in activities and programmes of civil society. Even as I agreed to lead and establish ADeC after being persuaded by the United Front of Civics, MCA and Forum for Service Delivery (F4SD) etc. I still maintained that mine was not to occupy a political position. However, given the fact that these mentioned organisations had started off as civil society movements but later decided to fight local government elections in 2015 arising out of the frustration of citizens, it became necessary that I assist in uniting them behind a common brand, vision and mission,” the Facebook post reads.

Last month, Bongani Masilela, who claimed to be the spokesperson of the ADeC said Khoza had been suspended from the ADeC for bringing the party into disrepute.

However, the party refuted the claim, saying former EFF members Mpho Ramakatsa and Lufuno Gogoro – who joined Khoza last year to start her party – had been behind calls for Khoza to be suspended.

ADeC spokesperson Feziwe Ndwayana said at the time the pair – Ramakatsa and Gogoro –  were not ADeC members as their membership was rejected on February 28.

Khoza said her decision to leave politics was based on her desire to use her academic qualifications “to really add maximum value to the entire local governance and administration fields in South Africa and possibly the entire African continent.”

Khoza left the governing ANC last year after she had been removed as chairperson of the public service and administration portfolio committee following a campaign against her leadership by some ANC committee members.

She had been a vocal opponent of former president Jacob Zuma.

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