Thulas Nxesi

Thembelani Waltermade "Thulas" Nxesi (born 1 January 1959) is a South African politician and former trade unionist who has been the Minister of Employment and Labour since May 2019. A representative of the African National Congress (ANC), he has been a member of cabinet since October 2011 and the Deputy National Chairperson of the South African Communist Party (SACP) since July 2012.

The Honourable Thulas Nxesi MP
Nxesi in Parliament in September 2019
Minister of Employment and Labour
Incumbent
Assumed office 30 May 2019
President	Cyril Ramaphosa
Deputy	Boitumelo Moloi
Preceded by	Mildred Oliphant
Member of the National Assembly
Incumbent
Assumed office 6 May 2009
Deputy National Chairperson of the South African Communist Party
Incumbent
Assumed office July 2012
General Secretary	Solly Mapaila Blade Nzimande
National Chairperson	Blade Nzimande Senzeni Zokwana
Preceded by	Joyce Moloi
Prior offices Acting Minister of Public Service and Administration In office 4 April 2022 – 7 March 2023 President Cyril Ramaphosa Preceded by Ayanda Dlodlo Succeeded by Noxolo Kiviet Minister of Public Works In office 28 February 2018 – 29 May 2019 President Cyril Ramaphosa Preceded by Nathi Nhleko Succeeded by Patricia de Lille In office 24 October 2011 – 31 March 2017 President Jacob Zuma Preceded by Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinde Succeeded by Nathi Nhleko Minister of Sport and Recreation In office 31 March 2017 – 28 February 2018 President Jacob Zuma Cyril Ramaphosa Preceded by Fikile Mbalula Succeeded by Tokozile Xasa Deputy Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform In office 1 November 2010 – 24 October 2011 President Jacob Zuma Minister Gugile Nkwinti
Union offices 1995–2009 President of Education International In office 2004–2009 Preceded by Mary Hatwood Futrell Succeeded by Susan Hopgood General Secretary of the South African Democratic Teachers' Union In office 1995–2009
Personal details
Born	Thembelani Waltermade Nxesi (1959-06-10) 10 June 1959 (age 64) Matatiele, Cape Province Union of South Africa
Political party	African National Congress
Other political affiliations	South African Communist Party
Spouse	Sesi Nxesi
Alma mater	University of Fort Hare Witwatersrand University
Nickname	Thulas

A teacher by profession, Nxesi rose to prominence as the General Secretary of the South African Democratic Teachers' Union from 1995 to 2009. He was also the President of Education International between 2004 and 2009. He entered the National Assembly at the 2009 general election, and in 2010 he was appointed as Deputy Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform in the government of President Jacob Zuma. The following year, Zuma promoted him to the cabinet, first as Minister of Public Works from 2011 to 2017 and then as Minister of Sport and Recreation from 2017 to 2018. Under Zuma's successor, President Cyril Ramaphosa, Nxesi returned briefly to the Ministry of Public Works in 2018 before he was appointed to his current position in 2019. He was also Acting Minister of Public Service and Administration from April 2022 to March 2023.

Nxesi was a member of the ANC National Executive Committee from 2012 to 2017, and he was elected to his third five-year term as SACP Deputy National Chairperson in July 2022.

Early life and education

Nxesi was born on 1 January 1959^[1] in Matatiele in the former Cape Province.^[2] Schooled at the height of apartheid, he was politically active from a young age as a student activist in the Azanian Students' Organisation and its successor, the South African National Student Congress;^[2] he was expelled from school on several occasions for his political activities.^[1] He graduated from the University of Fort Hare with a Bachelor of Arts in 1983, and he later completed a Bachelor of Education at Witwatersrand University and a higher diploma in education at the University of South Africa.^[1]

Trade union career

In 1985, he took up a teaching job at Ikusasa Senior Secondary School in Tembisa in the former Transvaal. He headed the school's social studies department until 1990.^[1] During that period, he was a founding member and ultimately secretary of the National Education Union of South Africa, which was later merged into the South African Democratic Teachers' Union (Sadtu).^[1][2]

In 1990, Nxesi was elected as Assistant General Secretary of the newly formed Sadtu, and he was elected as General Secretary in 1995.^[2] During his tenure in the secretariat, which lasted until 2009,^[2] Sadtu became one of the largest affiliates of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu). In addition, from 2004 to 2009, Nxesi was the President of Education International, a global federation of teachers' unions.^[3]

Zuma presidency

In the 2009 general election, Nxesi won election to a seat in the National Assembly, the lower house of the South African Parliament; he stood as a candidate for the African National Congress (ANC), Cosatu's Tripartite Alliance partner.^[4] He was one of three unionists – the others being Alina Rantsolase and Noluthando Mayende-Sibiya – who represented the ANC by way of the Tripartite Alliance.^[5][2] In the aftermath of the election, the ANC announced that it would nominate Nxesi to chair Parliament's Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation.^[6]

Nxesi joined the executive in a cabinet reshuffle announced by President Jacob Zuma on 31 October 2010. He was appointed as Deputy Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform, serving under Minister Gugile Nkwinti.^[7] Sadtu welcomed Zuma's announcement.^[8]

Minister of Public Works: 2011–2017

In another cabinet reshuffle, announced on 24 October 2011, Zuma promoted Nxesi to the position of Minister of Public Works. He succeeded Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinde, who was fired amid an investigation into a lease scandal that also implicated police commissioner Bheki Cele.^[9] Mahlangu-Nkabinde's former Deputy Minister, Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu, was moved to a different ministry at the same time, leaving Nxesi without a deputy.^[10]

One of Nxesi's first acts as Minister was to accept, on behalf of the cabinet, a memorandum of protest from the ANC Youth League, which had marched to the Union Buildings to demand land expropriation without compensation.^[11] Nxesi said that he would review the ministry's workings and embark on "a listening campaign" before deciding on a strategy to turn around his new department.^[10] A fortnight later, he responded to the lease scandal by changing the department's process for approving new leases.^[12]

Tripartite Alliance elections

In the run-up to the 13th National Congress of the South African Communist Party (SACP), held at the University of Zululand in July 2012, Nxesi emerged as a likely candidate to succeed Joyce Moloi-Moropa as Deputy National Chairperson of the SACP.^[13] He had recently been co-opted onto the party's Central Committee.^[14] When the elections were held, he was elected unopposed, deputising Senzeni Zokwana.^[15] Months later, at the ANC's 53rd National Conference in December 2012, Nxesi was elected to a five-year term as a member of the ANC National Executive Committee.^[16] By number of votes received, he was ranked 60th of the 80 ordinary members elected to the committee.^[17]

Nkandlagate

Further information: Nkandlagate

Minister of Sport and Recreation: 2017–2018

Shortly after midnight on 30 March 2017, Zuma announced a cabinet reshuffle in which Nxesi was moved to a new office as Minister of Sport and Recreation.^[18] Nxesi succeeded Fikile Mbalula in that office, and he said that his top priorities would include the transformation of sport and the promotion of school sports and youth development.^[19]

Tripartite Alliance elections

Despite Nxesi's perceived support for Zuma during the Nkandla saga, the Mail & Guardian observed by February 2016 that Nxesi and the SACP had "drifted apart" from Zuma.^[20] Indeed, during ANC National Executive Committee meetings over the next year, Nxesi reportedly voiced support for both of two unsuccessful motions of no confidence in Zuma's ANC presidency, one tabled by Derek Hanekom in November 2016^[21] and another tabled by Joel Netshitenzhe in May 2017.^[22]

At the same time, SACP National Chairperson Senzeni Zokwana's failure to support the ANC motions of no confidence apparently drew the ire of a group of Zuma opponents in the SACP, who reportedly conspired to remove Zokwana from his post and remove him with Nxesi.^[23] However, when the SACP's 14th National Congress was held in July 2017, both Zokwana and Nxesi were re-elected unopposed to their positions.^[24] That December, at the ANC's 54th National Conference, Nxesi failed to gain re-election to the ANC National Executive Committee.^[25]

2018 Davis Cup boycott

While Sports Minister, Nxesi personally boycotted a tennis match between Israel and South Africa, held in Pretoria during the 2018 Davis Cup.^[26] He was a supporter of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement.^[27][28] In an open letter, Nxesi wrote:

[G]iven the concerns that activists and fellow South Africans are raising regarding the presence of an Israeli team, I believe that it would not be proper for me to attend. International solidarity and the boycott against Apartheid South Africa played a big role in our liberation. Indeed, one of the most well-known slogans came out of that context – 'no normal sport with an abnormal regime!'^[29]

His letter accused Israel of "practicing apartheid" in occupied Palestine, and it also said that Nxesi had himself "experienced Israeli discrimination and occupation" when Israel denied him entry to Palestine years earlier.^[29] In the earlier incident, Nxesi had led the South African delegation to a 2012 meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement's Committee on Palestine; the meeting was scheduled to take place in Ramallah but had been blocked by Israeli authorities.^[30][31]

Ramaphosa presidency

Minister of Public Works: 2018–2019

In February 2018, newly elected ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa was elected to succeed Zuma as President of South Africa. When Ramaphosa announced his new cabinet, Nxesi was returned to his former office as Minister of Public Works, replacing Nathi Nhleko, who was fired.^[32] Several months into his tenure, he asked Ramaphosa to authorise further corruption probes in his department, to be carried out by the Special Investigating Unit; briefing the media on the scale of the problem in the portfolio, Nxesi called for "a massive struggle against the state capture forces which are still entrenched and desperately striving to keep open access to state coffers".^[33]

Minister of Employment and Labour: 2019–present

Pursuant to the 2019 general election, Nxesi was re-elected to his seat in the National Assembly,^[4] and Ramaphosa appointed him as Minister of Employment and Labour. Boitumelo Moloi was appointed as his deputy.^[34]

In addition to his permanent ministry, Nxesi served as Acting Minister of Public Service and Administration from April 2022, after the incumbent, Ayanda Dlodlo, left to join the board of the World Bank.^[35] He acted in Dlodlo's ministry for almost a full year. During that time, he oversaw the adoption of a new policy framework for the professionalisation of the public service;^[36] he also presided over a prolonged wage dispute with the National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union, which led to strike action and which the Mail & Guardian said "imperill[ed] whatever goodwill he has achieved with trade unions".^[37][38] Ramaphosa replaced him with a permanent appointment, Noxolo Kiviet, in March 2023.^[39]

Despite earlier rumours that Nxesi could face a challenge to his SACP leadership,^[40] he was re-elected as Deputy National Chairperson in July 2022, now deputising Blade Nzimande.^[41] At the ANC's 55th National Conference in December 2022, he again failed to gain election to the ANC National Executive Committee.^[42]

Personal life

Nxesi is married to Sesi Nxesi, a former chief executive officer of the Education Seta. Their 17-year-old daughter, Lona, died in June 2012 in a car accident near Kroonstad; she was travelling home to Midrand from her boarding school in Bloemfontein.^[43]

References

1. "Thembelani Thulas Nxesi , Mr". South African Government. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
2. . Master Builders South Africa Congress. 6 January 2014. Archived from the original on 6 January 2014. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
3. "Former EI President Thulas Nxesi appointed to South Africa's cabinet". Education International. 13 June 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
4. "Thulas Nxesi". People's Assembly. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
5. "Cosatu clamours for jobs". The Mail & Guardian. 2 May 2009. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
6. "ANC names committee chairs, snubs DA". The Mail & Guardian. 21 May 2009. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
7. "Zuma keeps friends close, some enemies closer". The Mail & Guardian. 1 November 2010. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
8. "Mixed reactions to Zuma's Cabinet reshuffle". News24. 1 November 2010. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
9. "Mahlangu-Nkabinde and Shiceka sacked". The Mail & Guardian. 24 October 2011. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
10. "Nxesi embraces new role". Sowetan. 27 October 2011. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
11. "Newly appointed Minister comes to collect Malema demand". Sowetan. 28 October 2011. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
12. "Thulas Nxesi rings changes in Public Works". Sunday Times. 9 November 2011. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
13. "SACP is poised to change its leadership structure". Sowetan. 6 July 2012. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
14. "Will SACP go it alone?". News24. 11 July 2012. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
15. Hlongwane, Sipho (14 July 2012). "SACP conference: smooth victory for the usual suspects". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
16. "Don't bet against Zuma: ABZ left out of the NEC". The Mail & Guardian. 20 December 2012. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
17. "53rd National Conference: ANC National Executive Committee Members". African National Congress. 20 December 2012. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
18. Thamm, Marianne (30 March 2017). "The axeman strikes: Gordhan sidelined in Zuma's late-night cabinet reshuffle gamble". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
19. Mphahlele, Mahlatse (25 April 2017). "Acceleration of transformation and revival of school sport among new Sport Minister's top priorities". Sunday Times. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
20. "The heads that will roll: Zuma allies face an uncertain future". The Mail & Guardian. 11 February 2016. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
21. "Zuma may axe some ministers to tighten grip on power, say senior ANC leaders". The Mail & Guardian. 27 January 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
22. "Zuma survives: The 18 NEC members who spoke out". The Mail & Guardian. 29 May 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
23. "SACP rounds on its leaders who back Zuma". The Mail & Guardian. 9 June 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
24. "Blade Nzimande to continue leading the SACP". Business Day. 12 July 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
25. "The full list of ANC NEC members". EWN. 21 December 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
26. Lerman, Sy (27 January 2018). "Sports minister boycotts tennis". The Citizen. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
27. "SA ministers slam Israel". Jewish Report. 28 April 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
28. "Thousands at pro-Palestine march". News24. 18 July 2014. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
29. "South Africa sports minister to boycott Davis Cup tennis tie, blames Israel". The Jerusalem Post. 28 January 2018. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
30. . Department of Foreign Affairs. 23 November 2012. Archived from the original on 23 November 2012. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
31. "Call for Israeli officials to face travel ban to SA". EWN. 28 April 2015. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
32. du Plessis, Carien (27 February 2018). "Cabinet Reshuffle: SA government gets a full makeover". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
33. Merten, Marianne (19 July 2018). "Thulas Nxesi: State Capture forces resist the clean up at Public Works". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
34. Nicolson, Greg (29 May 2019). "Ramaphosa cuts Cabinet from 36 to 28 ministers, half of whom are women". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
35. "President appoints acting Minister of Public Service and Administration". The Presidency. 4 April 2022. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
36. "Public service sector becomes more efficient to drive developmental agenda". The Mail & Guardian. 2 December 2022. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
37. "Thulas Nxesi (Grade D)". The Mail & Guardian. 20 December 2022. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
38. Charles, Marvin (6 March 2023). "No work, no pay: Nxesi condemns Nehawu strike action as wage negotiations reach deadlock". News24. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
39. "Labour calls on Noxolo Kiviet to repair government-worker relations". Business Day. 7 March 2023. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
40. Cele, S’thembile (1 October 2019). "Nzimande, Nxesi likely to be shown the door amid calls for SACP leadership change". City Press. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
41. Grootes, Stephen (18 July 2022). "The SACP has a new(ish) leadership — so what's next?". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
42. Masungwini, Norman (2 December 2022). "New ANC NEC ushers in new era as Cabinet ministers face exit". City Press. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
43. "Minister's daughter dies in car crash". IOL. 20 June 2012. Retrieved 15 July 2023.

External links

• 2008 interview at Springer
• 2008 interview with the Mail & Guardian

• Mr Thulas Nxesi at People's Assembly
• Mr Thembelani Thulas Nxesi at South African Government