Andries Gamede

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Mzikayifani Andries Gamede (born 1964) is a South African politician who worked in Mpumalanga’s government from 2013 to 2019. He is a member of the ANC and also leads the Independent Community Movement Association (ICMA). In January 2024 he joined uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK).

Early life and career
Gamede was born in Nongoma, Natal. He began in politics during apartheid, working as an organizer for the Food Alliance Workers’ Union in the Eastern Transvaal from 1989 to 1993. He then served as Deputy Provincial General-Secretary of SANCO from 1993 to 1995. In 1996 he became mayor of Piet Retief Local Municipality (later renamed Mkhondo) and served two terms. He was executive mayor of the Gert Sibande District Municipality for one term starting in 2007.

Mpumalanga politics
At an ANC conference in April 2012, Gamede was elected Provincial Treasurer of the Mpumalanga ANC. In February 2013 he was sworn into the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature and appointed as MEC for Human Settlements. In May 2014 he became MEC for Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs.

He remained in that MEC role until August 2016, when Premier David Mabuza reshuffled the cabinet and replaced him with Vusi Shongwe. Gamede then served as a regular member of the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature and did not stand for re-election in 2019.

Later activities
In the 2021 local elections, Gamede did not campaign for the ANC. Instead, he supported independent candidates through the ICMA for the Mkhondo council. He said he remained an ANC member and compared ICMA to SANCO, though ICMA fielded its own candidates.

Personal life
Gamede is married to Zamagambu Memela.