Zelna Abader

Zelna Saira Abader is a South African politician who serves in the National Assembly of South Africa for the Gauteng constituency as a member of uMkhonto weSizwe.

Zelna Saira Abader^[1] is a Muslim.^[2]

In the 2024 general election Abader was elected as part of uMkhonto weSizwe's regional list for the Gauteng constituency.^[1] uMkhonto weSizwe placed fourth in Gauteng, behind the African National Congress, Democratic Alliance, and Economic Freedom Fighters, winning five seats in the National Assembly of South Africa.^[3]

During Abadner's tenure in the National Assembly she has served on the Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements.^[4] She is one of two Muslims women in the uMkhonto weSizwe's caucus^[2] and is a portfolio committee of uMkhonto weSizwe.^[5] She deputized Wesley Douglas as a whip for thePeace and Security Cluster of uMkhonto weSizwe.^[6]

Abader has defended the persecution of Uyghurs in China and stated that thousands of Uyghurs have joined the Islamic State.^[7] She has been critical of Minister of Human Settlements Thembi Simelane's handling of housing projects, housing projects that were blocked, and allegations of corruption.^[8]

Abader stated that uMkhonto weSizwe is not a Zulu nationalist party and that is appeals to people of different backgrounds. She cited Jacob Zuma's head of security reading the Al-Fatiha and An-Nasr of the Quran at a party meeting in Bela-Bela as an example of its diversity. uMkhonto weSizwe was also noted to have received a significant amount of the vote in Gauteng, which has a small Zulu population.^[2]