Welsh Makanda

Welsh Ginyibulu Makanda is a retired South African politician and diplomat. A former anti-apartheid activist, he served in the National Assembly from 2001 to 2004. He represented the United Democratic Movement until he crossed the floor to the African National Congress in 2003.

Political career

In the 1999 general election, Makanda stood as a UDM candidate for election to the National Assembly. Though he was not initially elected to a seat, he was sworn in on 2 August 2001, replacing Sipo Mzimela. On 1 April 2003, during that month's floor-crossing window, Makanda was among the UDM representatives who resigned from the party and joined the governing ANC. He served the rest of the parliamentary term under the ANC's banner.
After leaving Parliament, Makanda served as South African Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo.