The MEC for the department of Cooperative Government and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Zolile Williams has learnt with shock about the passing away of Councillor Nkosifikile Gqomo after a short illness. The MEC wishes to convey his words of condolences to the family, the relatives of Councillor Gqomo as well the people of O.R. Tambo District Municipality. At the time of his passing, Cllr. Gqomo was a Member of the Mayoral Committee (MAYCO).

Cllr. Gqomo was the Portfolio Head for Planning, Research, and Intergovernmental Relations at O.R. Tambo District Municipality. He had been deployed in the position after the 1st November 2021 Local Government Elections. The deployment followed a chronicle of his activism spanning over three decades.

He became an activist at an early age in the 1980s when he responded to the clarion call from Oliver Tambo for the Young Lions to swell the ranks of the mass democratic movement (MDM) and dismantle apartheid. He joined and led the Congress of South African Students (COSAS) in the Transkei Region. He was later elected to the African National Congress Youth League(ANCYL) Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) in the early 2000s. His eloquence saw him elected to the Provincial Working Committee (PWC) and being appointed the ANCYL Provincial Spokesperson. It was in this role where he shone and earned the title, “Somlomo” from his peers.

He served as a councillor and the Chief Whip of Mhlontlo Local Municipality from (2000-2004) after which, he ventured to start his own business. He continued to serve the African National Congress (ANC) in various roles and played a pivotal role in its life. At the time of his passing, he was serving as the ANC Regional Treasurer of O.R. Tambo Region.

MEC described Councillor Gqomo as an articulate and disciplined cadre who exuded humility and enjoyed constructive engagements and discussions. “A jovial persona and an ardent supporter of Mamelodi Sundowns FC. He liked to tease people about the soccer results. He was a community development-oriented person, a team player and an affable persona,” said MEC.

The MEC wishes to convey his heartfelt condolences to the Gqomo family, his relatives, friends, the ANC O.R. Tambo Region, his colleagues at O. R. Tambo District Municipality and the Eastern Cape province.