Ngrayi Ngwenya
Michael "Ngrayi" Ngwenya is a South African politician from Mpumalanga. He was Regional Chairperson of the African National Congress (ANC) in Ehlanzeni, Mpumalanga from 2011 to 2019, in which capacity he was an influential ally of Premiers David Mabuza and Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane. In July 2021, he was suspended from the party for five years because of his role in organising a political rally in support of former President Jacob Zuma. Nicknamed 'Lomdzala', Ngwenya joined the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in June 2023. Immediately after Joining EFF, the ANC offices in Drikoppies, Mpumalanga rebranded from the traditional ANC colours to EFF colours and logo. ANC Regional Chairperson: 2011–2019 Ngwenya was elected as Regional Chairperson of the ANC's Ehlanzeni branch in 2011 with the support of David Mabuza, who was the Premier of Mpumalanga and Provincial Chairperson of the Mpumalanga ANC. He held that position until mid-2019, when the branch was disbanded in preparation for a merger. He was viewed as Mabuza's "right-hand man". In September 2013, Ngwenya was convicted of assaulting politician Collen Sedibe and sentenced to pay a R1,000 fine. The charges arose from an incident during an ANC meeting on 18 April, at which Ngwenya and another man had