Ex-traffic cop, now a tycoon, wants to fix the gaps
Construction magnate, socialite and reality TV star Shauwn “Mam’Mkhize” Mkhize’s former husband, Wiseman Sbu Mpisane, has joined the ranks of the newly established political party Gap Fixers of South Africa (GFSA).
The Durban business tycoon was, in the past, known to be a staunch supporter of the ANC, making generous contributions to the coffers of the ruling party.
Mpisane has now, however, embarked on his own political path by landing the top job as national chair of GFSA.
The new political party – with the tagline “A true catalyst for change” – was given the green light last year by the Independent Electoral Commission to participate in the 2024 elections.
Mpisane has said the incarceration of former president Jacob Zuma in July 2021 at the Escourt Correctional Facility in KwaZulu-Natal served as motivation for his decision to go into politics.
“What hurt me the most was to witness someone who fought for our freedom having his fingerprints taken in prison and jailed thereafter.
“I was hurting because Zuma was jailed after he didn’t have a fair trial,” he said.
According to Mpisane, the ANC had forgotten about the “breadand-butter issues” that the majority of people are facing. “Our people are still living in poverty 30 years after the black government took over.”
He said GFSA aims “to fix a lot of things in this country”.
“There is a huge gap that doesn’t cover the ordinary people who are the majority voters. People want clean water, free and quality education for their children and to live in safe places.”
In addressing the country’s high youth unemployment rate, Mpisane said young people could be assisted to secure jobs at the age of 18, or straight after matriculating.
According to the political party’s website, GFSA will do away with the tendering system.
“We will eradicate the tendering system and encourage direct absorption of people into the labour market.”
With an estimated net worth of R200 million in 2020, the tycoon has secured his place on SA’s “rich
list” along with his multi-millionaire ex-wife. Mpisane was a Durban metro police officer for 13 years before venturing into the business world.
The couple is said to have met in 1991, at a party hosted by Mam’Mkhize’s late mother and anti-apartheid activist Florence “Mam’Flo” Mkhize.
In 2011, Mpisane and Mam’Mkhize pulled out all the stops, splurging R1 million on a birthday and wedding celebration combo in a single weekend.
The construction mogul gifted her husband with a R1.8 million Maserati GranCabrio at his 40th birthday party at their La Lucia mega mansion.
The Mzansi power couple coowned several business entities – from construction companies to football clubs – before they decided to call it quits in 2018.
The businessman owes much of his riches to his highly connected ex-wife. Through Mam’Mkhize, he became involved in the Zikhulise Group, building low-budget RDP houses in eThekwini municipality.
Through Zikhulise, the couple reportedly made millions via a contract from the KwaZulu-Natal government.
Before Mpisane and Mam’ Mkhize’s separation, they made headlines for fraud allegations linked to government contracts.