Hlengiwe Mkhize
National Treasurer of the African National Congress Women's League | |||||||
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In office July 2008 – August 2015 | |||||||
President | Angie Motshekga | ||||||
Preceded by | predecessor | ||||||
Succeeded by | Maite Nkoana-Mashabane | ||||||
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Personal details | |||||||
Born | 6 September 1952 | ||||||
Died | 16 September 2021 Johannesburg, South Africa | (aged 69)||||||
Citizenship | South African | ||||||
Political party | African National Congress | ||||||
Spouse | Pat Mkhize | ||||||
Alma mater | University of Zululand University of Natal | ||||||
Hlengiwe Buhle Mkhize (6 September 1952 – 16 September 2021) was a South African politician who served as
Mkhize trained in clinical psychology and spent over a decade in academia at the University of Zululand and University of the Witwatersrand, until in 1995 she was appointed to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. She chaired the commission's Reparations and Rehabilitation Committee. She went on to serve as South African Ambassador to the Netherlands from 2005 to 2008 before she was elected to the National Assembly in the 2009 general election.
Between 2009 and 2017, Mkhize served Zuma's administration as a deputy minister in four different portfolios: she was
A longserving member of the
Early life and education
Mkhize was born on 6 September 1952.[1] In 1976, she completed a Bachelor of Arts in psychology, social work, and sociology from the University of Zululand,[1] where she was involved in student activism.[2][3] She went on to complete two postgraduate degrees at the University of Natal: an Honours in psychology in 1978, and a Master's in clinical psychology in 1981.[1]
Career in academia and activism
Mkhize spent over a decade in academia: she was a senior lecturer at the University of Zululand from 1984 to 1990 and then a senior lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrand from 1990 to 1995.[1] During that period, she was also a visiting professor at the University of Illinois and University of Mississippi.[1]
After leaving teaching, she held a series of varied posts in civil society and non-profit organisations.
Through much of her career in civil society, Mkhize was also an active member of the
Ambassador to the Netherlands: 2005–2008
In 2005, President Thabo Mbeki appointed Mkhize as South African Ambassador to the Netherlands, a post she held until 2008.[1] In this capacity, she chaired the executive council of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons during the early 2000s and was vice-president of the Member States at the International Criminal Court from 2006 to 2008.[1][3]
Treasurer of the ANC Women's League: 2008–2015
On 6 July 2008 in
Career in government
Deputy Minister: 2009–2017
She was first elected to the National Assembly of South Africa in the April 2009 general election, representing the ANC.[11] She served in the assembly until her death in 2021, gaining re-election in 2014 and 2019.[12] In addition, after the 2009 election, she was appointed as a deputy minister under the cabinet of newly elected President Jacob Zuma, who named her as Deputy Minister of Correctional Services under Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula.[13] Mkhize was viewed as a political supporter and ally of Zuma.[11]
In a reshuffle announced on 31 October 2010, Mkhize was appointed as
Minister of Home Affairs: 2017
Late on 30 March 2017, Zuma announced another cabinet reshuffle in which Mkhize was promoted to his
Minister of Higher Education and Training: 2017–2018
Mkhize spent less than a year in the home affairs portfolio before, on 17 October 2017, she was appointed as Minister of Higher Education and Training, succeeding her former boss, Blade Nzimande.[22] While she was serving in this office, Mkhize attended the ANC's 54th National Conference, at which she was elected to a five-year term as a member of the party's National Executive Committee. By number of votes received, she was ranked 73rd of the committee's 80 ordinary members.[23]
Portfolio committees: 2018–2019
On 26 February 2018, Mkhize was sacked from the cabinet by Cyril Ramaphosa, who had recently succeeded Zuma as president.[24] She was replaced by Naledi Pandor and retreated to the backbenches of the National Assembly, where she spent several months as an ordinary member of the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education and Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation.[12] On 6 November 2018, she was elected to chair the Portfolio Committee on Communications after the former chairperson, Humphrey Maxegwana, became chair of the Joint Committee on Ethics and Members' Interest.[25] She remained in the chair until after the May 2019 general election.[12]
Deputy Minister in the Presidency: 2019–2021
Pursuant to the 2019 general election, Ramaphosa appointed Mkhize as Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities. She deputised Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane.[26] She served in the office until her death in 2021, making her last parliamentary appearance on 19 August 2021 when she cast her vote to elect Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula as the Speaker of the National Assembly.[2]
Personal life and death
Mkhize was diagnosed with lung cancer in March 2017, and she was hospitalised on 31 August 2021.[2] She died in hospital in Johannesburg on 16 December 2021, aged 69.[27] President Ramaphosa granted her an official funeral.[28]
She was married to Pat Mkhize. They had four children – three daughters and a son – and a grandson.[2] She was also the chairperson of the June and Andrew Mlangeni Foundation.[2][29]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Hlengiwe Buhle Mkhize, Prof". South African Government. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
- ^ a b c d e Khumalo, Juniour (16 September 2021). "Deputy Minister in the Presidency Hlengiwe Mkhize has died". News24. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Experts cautious on Mkhize's appointment". The Mail & Guardian. 3 November 2010. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
- ^ "Truth commissioner under investigation". The Mail & Guardian. 10 May 1996. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
- ^ "Truth commissioner is haunted by her history". The Mail & Guardian. 26 April 1996. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
- ^ "Diamonds are a truth commissioner's best friend". The Mail & Guardian. 13 November 1998. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
- ^ "Zuma's Cabinet Inc". The Mail & Guardian. 15 May 2009. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
- ^ "Motshekga to lead ANCWL". News24. 6 July 2008. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
- ^ "ANC Women's League's finances are 'healthy'". The Mail & Guardian. 15 May 2015. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
- ^ "Dlamini beats Motshekga in bruising ANC Women's League battle". News24. 8 August 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
- ^ a b "Fierce loyalty reaps big rewards". The Mail & Guardian. 31 March 2017. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
- ^ a b c "Hlengiwe Mkhize". People's Assembly. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
- ^ "Statement by President Jacob Zuma on the appointment of the new Cabinet". South African Government. 10 May 2009. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
- ^ "Zuma announces cabinet reshuffle". Sunday Times. 31 October 2010. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
- ^ "Zuma reshuffles Cabinet". Sowetan. 13 June 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
- ^ Hogg, Alec (25 May 2014). "Full List of Jacob Zuma's 2014 cabinet – all the Ministers and Deputies". BizNews. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
- ^ "#CabinetReshuffle: President Jacob Zuma's statement of change". EWN. 30 March 2017. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
- ^ Nhlabathi, Hlengiwe (25 June 2017). "Mkhize mulls Gupta citizenship". News24. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
- ^ Gerber, Jan (7 September 2017). "Guptas must be treated with dignity - Home Affairs minister Mkhize". News24. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
- ^ "Mkhize defends Gigaba". The Mail & Guardian. 23 June 2017. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
- ^ "Cabinet reshuffle lets Hlengiwe Mkhize off the hook". Business Day. 17 October 2017. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
- ^ "Zuma reshuffles his Cabinet". The Mail & Guardian. 17 October 2017. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
- ^ "Meet the new ANC NEC". News24. 21 December 2017. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
- ^ "Ramaphosa swings the axe, cuts 13 from Zuma's Cabinet". Sunday Times. 26 February 2018. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
- ^ "Communications committee elects new chairperson". Parliament of South Africa. 6 November 2018. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
- ^ Nicolson, Greg (29 May 2019). "Ramaphosa cuts Cabinet from 36 to 28 ministers, half of whom are women". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
- ^ Baloyi, Thabo (16 September 2021). "Deputy Minister Hlengiwe Mkhize passes away". The South African. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
- ^ McCain, Nicole (20 September 2021). "Official funeral declared for Deputy Minister in the Presidency Hlengiwe Mkhize". News24. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
- ^ "The June and Andrew Mlangeni Foundation says the late struggle veteran leaves a legacy of solidarity". SABC News. 22 July 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
External links
- Hlengiwe Mkhize at People's Assembly
- Memorial service livestream at SABC News