Eminent political commentator William Gumede is the author of the bestselling Thabo Mbeki and the Battle for the Soul of the ANC, The Poverty of Ideas (co-edited with Leslie Dikeni) and the award-winning children's book A Kite's Flight. He is honorary associate professor of public and development management at the University of the Witwatersrand and a programme director at the University of London.
Gumede first rose to prominence as deputy editor of The Sowetan newspaper. He also founded the Financial Mail's Little Black Book which celebrates black professionals. He is contributing commentator to The Guardian newspaper, London, and also writes for several South African publications.
