Durban — For the first time in more than two decades, politicians from across the ideological divide are sitting side by side in an attempt to make the country better. At least 15 of the 75 ministers and deputy ministers in the newly established Government of National Unity (GNU) are from KZN.

NOBUHLE PAMELA NKABANE, (ANC)

Higher Education

Nobuhle Pamela Nkabane, Minister of Higher Education.

She served as the Deputy Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy from 2021 until 2024. She has a PhD in public administration from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Nkabane has a multitude of qualifications from various institutions; Durban University of Technology, UKZN, UCT, UWC, Stellenbosch University and SOAS University in London. She was a tutor at Unisa when she was elected to serve in the National Assembly in 2019. Nkabane has worked in various municipalities in KZN, as a personal assistant at uMzimkhulu Local Municipality and a youth co-ordinator at Sisonke District Municipality.

MZAMO BUTHELEZI (IFP)

Public Service and Administration.

Mzamo Buthelezi, Minister of Public Service and Administration.

He is the Inkosi of the Buthelezi Clan at Embongongweni and a prince, a direct descendant of King Mpande. The IFP’s website says Buthelezi was a veterinary assistant before a career in the banking and finance sector. He was also involved in nature conservation in his community and instrumental in developing the strategy for the People and Parks Programme of the Department of Environmental Affairs. Buthelezi is the former chairperson of the KZN People and Parks Forum. He also served as the mayor of Zululand District Municipality. Passionate about conservation, he is also the former board chairperson of Ithala Game Reserve and is the chairperson of the Co-Management Committee.

DEAN WILLIAM MACPHERSON (DA)

Public Works and Infrastructure

Dean Macpherson, the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure.

He started out as a ward councillor for Durban North in eThekwini Municipality where he was the party’s chief whip. He made his debut in the National Assembly in 2014 and, in 2021 was elected DA KZN provincial chairperson. According to his LinkedIn account, Macpherson was also a director at Sheridan Textiles for 10 years. During the looting and violence in KZN in 2021, in which several Africans were killed in Phoenix, a majority Indian township, Macpherson put up posters during their local government campaign in the area, saying: “The ANC called you racists” and “The DA calls you heroes”. The posters caused outrage. Macpherson, who was the election campaign manager, was forced to apologise and remove them.

EDWARD SENZO MCHUNU (ANC)

Police

He faces a tough task as South Africa features on lists as one of the crime capitals of the world. However, Mchunu has been warned by the South African Police Union that he should not interfere with operational matters. Originally from northern KZN, Mchunu is an educator by training and taught at various schools. He held various positions in the ANC, including KZN premier. During a brief stint at the ANC headquarters, Luthuli House, a worker accused him of sexual harassment. The matter was apparently investigated but the outcome is unknown. Mchunu went on to serve as Minister of Public Service and Administration and, most recently, as the Minister of Water and Sanitation.

JOHN HENRY STEENHUISEN (DA)

Agriculture

John Steenhuisen, Minister of Agriculture.

The DA leader is known for his biting comments in Parliament. According to social media, he was once a dog shampoo salesperson. The Northwood Boys’ High matriculant began as a councillor in Durban, and became the party’s KZN leader and caucus leader in the legislature. He quit the legislature when his extramarital affair with a colleague was revealed. He subsequently moved to the National Assembly where his career accelerated. Two years ago, on a podcast, he likened his ex-wife to “roadkill”. Called out for it, Steenhuisen said it had been a joke. As opposition leader and ardent critic of the ANC, Steenhuisen has to work with those he has labelled as corrupt and incompetent.

VELENKOSINI FIKI HLABISA (IFP)

Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs.

Velenkosini Hlabisa, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister.

The IFP leader has been a member of the National Assembly since 2023, after taking up the seat of former IFP leader Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi. In 2019, Hlabisa became the first person in 44 years to be chosen as the leader of the IFP, since its formation in 1975. He joined the IFP Youth Brigade at age 13 and has moved up the ranks. The former teacher and school principal has been the party’s parliamentary leader, secretary-general and the mayor of Big Five Hlabisa Local Municipality from 2016 to 2019. He was also the leader of the Opposition in the KZN legislature.

BONGINKOSI NZIMANDE (ANC)

Science, Technology and Innovation.

Blade Nzimande, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation.

Known as “Blade”, he was previously Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology. Last year, the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), a government financial aid programme to assist poor students, collapsed.

First RISE Mzansi called for him to be held accountable after a forensic report by Werksmans Attorneys had implied that the NSFAS CEO, Andile Nongogo, was involved in fraud and corruption. Nongogo was subsequently fired. Then Outa, a civil action organisation, called for Nzimande and NSFAS chairperson Ernest Khosa to resign. It also released voice recordings of meetings in which an alleged NSFAS service provider revealed how service providers paid millions in kickbacks to the two, of which R1 million went to the SACP in exchange for contracts and protection for service providers. The DA subsequently laid a charge against Nzimande, who has not faced government censure.

DEPUTY MINISTERS FROM KZN:

Sihle Zikalala, Public Works and Infrastructure.
Narend Singh, Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.
Jomo Sibiya, Employment and Labour
Mkhuleko Hlengwa, Transport.
Nomalungelo Gina, Science, Technology and Innovation.
Phumzile Mgcina, Employment and Labour.
Njabulo Bheka Nzuza, Home Affairs.
Richard Mkhungo, Defence and Military Veterans.

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