Sindiswa Griselda Gomba (born 21 May 1958) is a South African politician who was the Eastern Cape MEC for Health from 2019 to 2021. She became a Member of the

Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature The Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature is the primary legislative body of the South African province of Eastern Cape. It is unicameral in its composition, and elects the premier and the provincial cabinet from among the members of the leading par ...

in March 2019. Gomba is a member of the African National Congress (ANC) and previously served as a municipal councillor of the

Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality Buffalo City is a metropolitan municipality situated on the east coast of Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. It includes the towns of East London, Bhisho and Qonce, as well as the large townships of Mdantsane and Zwelitsha. History The muni ...

Early political career

Gomba joined the ANC and started her political career as a municipal councillor of the

. During her tenure on the council, she was one of the longest-serving councillors. She and many other councillors were charged in relation to the scandal around

Nelson Mandela Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (; ; 18 July 1918 – 5 December 2013) was a South African Internal resistance to apartheid, anti-apartheid activist who served as the President of South Africa, first president of South Africa from 1994 to 1 ...

's funeral.

Eastern Cape provincial government

On 19 March 2019, she was sworn in as a Member of the

, succeeding

Thandiswa Marawu Thandiswa Linnen Marawu is a South African politician from the African Transformation Movement. She has sat in the National Assembly of South Africa The National Assembly is the directly elected house of the Parliament of South Africa, locate ...

. She was elected to her first full term in May 2019. She was sworn in on 22 May. Premier Oscar Mabuyane appointed her to his Executive Council as the MEC for Health. She assumed the office on 29 May. On 12 February 2021, Gomba appeared at the East London Magistrate's Court on charges of corruption, money laundering, fraud, and violation of the Municipal Finance Act in relation to the alleged siphoning of a portion of the R10 million that was meant for Mandela's funeral, through flouting tender processes. She is one of 14 co-accused. On 18 February, premier Mabuyane dismissed her as the MEC for Health. She will remain as an ordinary member of the Eastern Cape provincial legislature.

Coronavirus pandemic

In April 2020, national health minister Zweli Mkhize expressed his frustration with Gomba's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in Nelson Mandela Bay. The regional African National Congress Youth League called for her removal, but premier Mabuyane defended her. While in a Zoom meeting with minister Mkhize and her provincial counterparts on 28 April 2020, Gomba said: "andidikwe" (meaning "I am fed up"). Her comment generated controversy, and she subsequently apologised, saying that she was misunderstood. On 12 June 2020, the Eastern Cape Health Department launched a project, in which they bought scooters to address the challenge of people being rushed to hospitals in wheelbarrows in rural areas in the province. The project was seen as controversial and a failure. On 13 December 2020, Gomba tested positive for the coronavirus, but she since recovered.

References

External links

Sindiswa Griselda Gomba – People's Assembly
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gomba, Sindiswa Living people 1958 births Xhosa people Politicians from the Eastern Cape Members of the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature Women members of provincial legislatures of South Africa 21st-century South African politicians 21st-century South African women politicians