Nkosentsha Shezi, the long-time loyalist of former President Jacob Zuma who founded the RET (Radical Economic Transformation) Champion and later left the ANC to join the EFF, and later MK Party, and then notched a seat in parliament, has passed away.

Shezi, who lived in KwaMashu in the north of Durban, passed away late on Sunday after a short illness.

His passing away was confirmed by Nhlamulo Ndlela, the spokesperson of the MK Party and a fellow MP in the National Assembly (Parliament).

Shezi shot to prominence when he led RET Champion with Carl Niehaus, who later joined the EFF and served as its MP.

He was always in the Pietermaritzburg High Court to support Zuma during his corruption trial and time and again would visit Zuma in Nkandla to show solidarity.

In June 2021, he was amongst the most prominent ANC leaders who camped outside Zuma’s home in Nkandla to show solidarity with Zuma after the Constitutional Court sentenced the former President to 15 months for contempt of court.

In late 2025, the MK Party deployed him to parliament, where he served in the portfolio committee on employment and labour, a position he used to pile pressure on companies that are allegedly employing undocumented immigrants.