Ben Ngubane
Ben Ngubane | |
|---|---|
 Richard Hollis and Ben Ngubane | |
| Ambassador to Japan | |
| In office 2004–2008 | |
| President | Thabo Mbeki |
| Succeeded by | Gert Grobler |
| Minister of Arts and Culture | |
| In office February 1999 – April 2004 | |
| Succeeded by | Pallo Jordan |
| 2nd Premier of KwaZulu-Natal | |
| In office 1 March 1997 – 9 February 1999 | |
| Preceded by | Frank Mdlalose |
| Succeeded by | Lionel Mtshali |
| Minister of Arts and Culture | |
| In office 11 May 1994 – 31 August 1996 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 22 October 1941 Camperdown, KwaZulu-Natal |
| Died | 12 July 2021 (aged 79) |
| Political party | Inkatha Freedom Party (1976–2006) African National Congress |
| Spouse | Sheila Ngubane |
| Relations | Harriet Ngubane (sister) |
| Alma mater | University of Natal |
Baldwin Sipho "Ben" Ngubane (22 October 1941 – 12 July 2021)post-apartheid government of the country. In particular, he was Premier of KwaZulu-Natal from 1997 to 1999 and Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology from 1994 until 31 August 1996 and from February 1999 until April 2004.[2][3]
Early life and career
Baldwin Sipho "Ben" Ngubane was born in 1941 at
Johannesburg, South Africa. He furthermore received a master's degree of Family Medicine (M Prax Med) from Natal Medical School (now the Nelson Mandela Medical School) in 1986 and a postgraduate diploma in Economics from the University of London in 2003.[6]
While at the University of Natal, Ngubane was engaged in student politics, including through the
CODESA; he served on a working group which dealt with constitutional principles and constitution-making. In 1993 he was involved in negotiations with the African National Congress (ANC) on behalf of Inkatha.[8]
Career in government
He was the first
Government of National Unity.[9] Between 1997 and 1999, he was Premier of KwaZulu-Natal; after that, he returned to the Arts and Culture portfolio until 2004.[6]
In 2004 he was appointed Ambassador to Japan,[5] until 2008.[10] He was viewed as having fallen out with Inkatha's Mangosuthu Buthelezi after he left the Premier's office, and in 2006 he defected to the ANC during a floor-crossing period.[11][4]
He later served as chairperson of the
board between 2015 and 2017.In 2020, Ngubane was twice called to testify before
The Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture in his capacities as, first, former SABC board chairperson, then, secondly, as the chairman of Eskom.[13]
Ngubane died in Richards Bay on 12 July 2021 at the age of 79 from COVID-19 complications.[14][9]
Honours
He received an honorary
LLD degree from the University of Natal in 1995. In 2010, Ngubane was awarded an honorary PhD degree from the University of the Free State for his "contribution towards positioning South Africa as a major and an influential player in the development of arts, culture, science and technology internationally".[15] Later that year he also received the Grand Cordon of the Japanese Order of the Rising Sun for his contributions "to the enhancement of the relationship and the cooperation in science and technology between Japan and South Africa".[16] He furthermore received an honorary PhD degree from University of Zululand
,
an honorary Tokyo, Japan).[6]
Personal life
References
- ^ "SA History Online". Retrieved 30 January 2013.
- ^ "GCIS Profile Information". Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
- ^ "Former KZN premier Ben Ngubane dies from Covid-19". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
- ^ a b c "Ben Ngubane - an angry man". News24. 18 June 2017. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
- ^ a b "O'Malley archives". Retrieved 30 January 2013.
- ^ a b c Curriculum Vitae of Baldwin Sipho "Ben" Ngubane - website Parliamentary Monitoring Group
- ^ a b Johnson, R. W. (1998). "Interview: Ben Ngubane". Focus. 10. Helen Suzman Foundation.
- ^ "Database Error". www.nelsonmandela.org. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
- ^ a b Barron, Chris (18 July 2021). "Ben Ngubane: Captured by state capture". Sunday Times. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
- ^ "New storm breaks over Ngubane". Mail and Guardian. 28 May 2010. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
- ^ "IFP accuses KZN premier Sihle Zikalala of 'hatred' for ignoring IFP premiers". Sunday Times. 23 May 2019. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
- ^ "Ben Ngubane | Who's Who SA". www.whoswho.co.za. Archived from the original on 17 September 2012.
- ^ "WATCH: Ben Ngubane expected back at state capture inquiry". ENCA. 10 September 2020. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
- ^ McCain, Nicole (12 July 2021). "Former KwaZulu-Natal premier Dr Ben Ngubane dies of Covid-19 complications". News24.com. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
- ^ UFS honours Dr Ben Ngubane - website of the University of the Free State
- ^ "2010 Autumn Conferment of Decorations on Foreign Nationals" (PDF). Japanese Government. Retrieved 8 March 2013.