Abel Tau, previously the Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Human Settlements in Tshwane, has aligned himself with the uMkhonto weSizwe Party. The political party is led by Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma, former African National Congress (ANC) leader and South Africa’s fourth president, who held office from 2009 to 2018.
Tau’s move makes him the latest in a series of political figures drawn to Zuma’s movement. He has expressed admiration for the former president’s accountability and leadership qualities.
This development follows a pattern of politicians from various parties leaving their positions to join the uMkhonto weSizwe Party.
Tau’s political journey has been marked by several transitions. As a Democratic Alliance (DA) member, he served as MMC for Utility Services and briefly as acting executive mayor in 2019. He also held the position of DA regional chairperson until 2020, when he departed to join Herman Mashaba’s ActionSA.
Tau’s time with ActionSA ended in controversy, as he was expelled amid sexual misconduct allegations. In response, he established the United Africans Transformation (UAT) party on January 17, 2023, while simultaneously challenging his ActionSA membership termination in the North Gauteng High Court.
In June 2023, Tau announced his exit from UAT to form The Transformation Alliance (TTA). His recent move to the uMkhonto weSizwe Party represents his latest political shift.
