Smuts Ngonyama

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Lulama Smuts Ngonyama (born 22 August 1952) is a South African diplomat who previously served as South Africa’s Ambassador to Spain{{cite web|url=http://www.casareal.es/ES/Actividades/Paginas/actividades_actividades_detalle.aspx?data=12304|title=Presentación de Cartas Credenciales (Presentation of Letters of Credentials)|date=March 11, 2015|publisher=Household of His Majesty the King of Spain|access-date=October 14, 2019}} {{in lang|es}} and currently to Japan,{{cite web|url=https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/press/release/press4_007542.html|title=駐日南アフリカ共和国大使の信任状捧呈 (Presentation of Letter of Credentials by the Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa to Japan)|date=June 19, 2019|publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan|access-date=October 14, 2019}} {{in lang|ja}} and a former head of communications for the African National Congress (ANC) in South Africa. He was born in Uitenhage, attended school in Fort Beaufort and graduated from the University of Fort Hare.{{cite web|url=http://www.whoswhosa.co.za/Pages/profilefull.aspx?IndID=4339|title=Mr Lulama Smuts NGONYAMA|publisher=News24|accessdate=2008-11-13|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080928125531/http://www.whoswhosa.co.za/Pages/profilefull.aspx?IndID=4339|archivedate=2008-09-28}}

Following the removal of President Thabo Mbeki from the presidency in 2008, Ngonyama announced his resignation from the ANC to join the Congress of the People (COPE) breakaway party led by Mosiuoa Lekota and Mbhazima Shilowa.{{cite news|url=http://www.mg.co.za/article/2008-11-13-smuts-ngonyama-cuts-ties-with-anc|title=Smuts Ngonyama cuts ties with ANC|date=2008-11-13|publisher=Mail & Guardian}}

Ngonyama was Spokesperson and Public Secretary of COPE.{{cite web|url=http://www.novemberconvention.co.za/press-release/new-party-name-sadc|title=South African Democratic Congress is South Africa's new political force|work=South African National Convention|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081221063956/http://www.novemberconvention.co.za/press-release/new-party-name-sadc|archivedate=2008-12-21}} However, on 25 April 2014 Ngonyama resigned from COPE, citing the directionless nature of the movement.{{cite news|url=http://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2014/04/25/smuts-ngonyama-quits-cope |title=Smuts Ngonyama quits Cope }}