Zweli Mkhize
Zwelini Mkhize | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs | |
| Assumed office 27 February 2018 | |
| President | Cyril Ramaphosa |
| Preceded by | David Van Rooyen |
| Treasurer General of the African National Congress | |
| In office 18 December 2012 – 18 December 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Mathews Phosa |
| Succeeded by | Paul Mashatile |
| 5th Premier of KwaZulu-Natal | |
| In office 6 May 2009 – 1 September 2013 | |
| Preceded by | S'bu Ndebele |
| Succeeded by | Senzo Mchunu |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 2 February 1956 Pietermaritzburg, South Africa |
| Political party | African National Congress |
| Spouse | May Mashego |
| Alma mater | University of Natal |
Zwelini Lawrence Mkhize (born 2 February 1956) is a South African doctor, legislator and politician who currently serves as Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs and is the former Treasurer-General of the African National Congress,[1] serving between 2012 and 2017
Early life
Zwelini Mkhize was born in Willowfontein, Pietermaritzburg on the 2nd of February in 1956.[2] He is the fifth child in a family of seven. His paternal great-grandfather was one of the great heroes of the Mkhize clan of Nkandla in the early to mid 19th century. At the age of 26, Zweli Mkhize had completed his degree in medicine at the University of Natal. By 1983 his internship at the McCord Hospital was completed; this was important since McCord was often reprimanded for disobeying the Group Areas Act.[3] Mkhize ended up gaining employment at Edendale Hospital in his hometown of Pietermaritzburg in the following year.[4] Despite his accomplishments at Edendale, life was not safe for a successful young black doctor and activist: due to the Apartheid movement, he was forced into exile in Swaziland, eventually settling in Zimbabwe. He returned to South Africa in 1991, where he worked at Themba Hospital in the then Eastern Transvaal.
Political career
Upon his return to South Africa in 1991,[5] Mkhize began serving the African National Congress as a member of its national health secretariat- the structure that was tasked with the responsibility of developing the country's health policy. At the start of the democratic dispensation, Mkhize was appointed as the MEC for health in 1994- a position he held for a decade. He was the longest serving provincial health MEC in the country.[6]
In 2004, he was appointed the MEC for Finance and Economic Development in KwaZulu Natal. At the same time he was also the chairperson of the ANC's National Education and Health subcommittee.
He was designated on 30 April 2009 as the ANC candidate for Premier of KwaZulu-Natal and was elected to that position by the provincial legislature on 6 May.
He was elected ANC chairperson in KwaZulu Natal in 2008 and was reelected in 2012.[7]
He served as the chancellor of the University of KwaZulu-Natal since 2009 until 2017.[8]
Premier of KwaZulu-Natal
Zweli Mkhize was elected as Treasurer General of the African National Congress at the 53rd National conference in December 2012.[9] This post required the office holder to work out of "Luthuli House," the ANC Headquarters as stated in the ANC Constitution 12.11 "Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the Secretary General, the Deputy Secretary General and the Treasurer General shall be full-time functionaries of the ANC."[10]
Treasurer General of the African National Congress (ANC)
On 22 August 2013 Zweli Mkhize, as and understanding the constitutional requirements of the Treasurer General position of the African National Congress, stepped down as Premier of KwaZulu-Natal stating, "After considering the workload associated with my two responsibilities, I have come to the conclusion that I need to spend more time fulfilling my responsibilities as the treasurer general of the African National Congress."[11] Mkhize would be based at ANC headquarters Luthuli House in Johannesburg full time as from 1 September.[12]
On December 18, 2017, ANC Gauteng secretary Paul Mashatile was elected the new Treasurer General of the African National Congress at the 54th National conference.[13]
Presidential aspirations
In September 2017, Zweli Mkhize announced that he will accept nomination to be the next President of the African National Congress at their December conference.[14]
He is known to play a unifying role in the party and has been vocal against factionalism in the ANC.[15]
See also
References
- ^ "MEC: Dr Z L Mkhize". KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Treasury. Retrieved 1 May 2009.
- ^ http://www.anc.org.za/content/zweli-mkhize
- ^ Independent Newspapers Online. "McCord Hospital handed over". Independent Online.
- ^ "Mkhize the man to watch as stalwarts in the ANC age". Business Day Live.
- ^ "Total Exposure -". Total Exposure.
- ^ http://www.gcis.gov.za/content/resourcecentre/profiles/profile/1427
- ^ http://www.sabc.co.za/news/a/3d330f804b38072e91e39f08bbfc9952/Mkhize-re-elected-as-ANC-chair-in-KZN-20120512
- ^ du Plessis, Carien (30 April 2009). "ANC announces its premier candidates". IOL. Retrieved 1 May 2009.
- ^ "African National Congress".
- ^ "African National Congress".
- ^ "News 24". Zweli Mkhize resigns as KZN premier. 22 August 2013.
- ^ "Zweli Mkhize resigns as KZN premier". News 24. News 24.
- ^ https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/politics/2017-12-18-paul-mashatile-gets-set-to-leave-gauteng-after-being-named-anc-treasurer-general/
- ^ http://www.702.co.za/articles/271501/zweli-mkhize-ready-to-run-for-anc-president
- ^ http://ewn.co.za/2017/09/03/it-s-time-for-forge-unity-in-the-anc