Joshua Oupa Gqozo (Xhosa pronunciation: [ɔupʼa ᶢǃʱɔz̤ɔ]; born 10 March 1952) was the military ruler of the former homeland of Ciskei in South Africa.
He joined the South African Defence Force (SADF) and worked as a soldier and chief clerk of 21 Battalion based in Lenasia, Johannesburg.
On 4 March 1990, Gqozo staged his own coup in Ciskei in the absence of Lennox Sebe who was on state visit to Hong Kong.
In November of the same year, another coup planned by Colonel Guzana and former military council member Major Peter Howsa was stopped.
A march of about 80,000 people led by South African Communist Party General Secretary Chris Hani, Cyril Ramaphosa, and Harry Gwala took place on 7 September 1992.
When Ronnie Kasrils led a group in trying to break through the Ciskei Defence Force lines to enter Bisho stadium, the soldiers opened fire on marchers, killing 28 people and injuring over 200.
On 13 December 1993, the Ciskei Supreme Court acquitted Gqozo and Sergeant-Major Thozamile Veliti of the murder of Charles Sebe.
On 22 March 1994, Gqozo contacted the South African Foreign Minister Pik Botha and resigned as leader of Ciskei.
In 2001, Gqozo sustained bullet wounds to his head and back while trying to protect traditional healer Keke "Gonondo" Mama in Middledrift.