[2] His mother, Mildred Mei, worked as a school teacher and his father, Gxumekelani Charles Mda, was a peasant farmer, headman and local shoemaker.
Mda was the chair of the Pimville branch of the Salary Campaign Committee at the next TATA gathering at the Wilberforce institute.
Other members of the committee included David Bopane, Edward Manyosi, M. Maubela, M. Kekana, Sydney Maseko and E.S.
Mda later played a pivotal role in the formation of the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL).
Mda, Lembede and Jordan Ngubane, assistant editor of the Bantu World, were mandated to draw up the manifesto of the ANCYL.
Mda set up a working committee consisting of Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu and Oliver Tambo to manage the activities of the ANCYL.
Mda selected Fort Hare to expand their influence as the institution had a strong Black student community.
The ANCYL, under Mda's leadership, started the Programme of Action (PA) at the ANC's Cape provincial office in Port Elizabeth in June 1949.
Oliver Tambo went to James Moroka's home in Bantu location to encourage him to stand as a presidential candidate.
Mda noticed a “watering down” of African Nationalism by Oliver Tambo, Nelson Mandela and Walter Sisulu as the new leadership started forming multi-racial alliances including Coloured, Indian and White anti-Apartheid organisations.
Mda was often quoted as supporting a form of African Nationalism which should not be used to justify segregation and separate development.
Mda was against the Communist Party of South Africa (CPSA) which was possibly due to his Catholic upbringing.