Mmamoloko Kubayi

Last updated

Joel Sihle Ngubane
(m. 2017;div. 2021)
Mmamoloko Kubayi
MP
Minister of Energy Mmamoloko Kubayi.jpg
Kubayi in 2017
Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development
Assumed office
3 December 2024
Children2
Residence(s) Soweto, South Africa
Alma mater
Occupation
  • Politician
  • consultant
  • facilitator
  • academic
  • youth activist

Mmamoloko Tryphosa Kubayi (born 8 May 1978) is a South African politician who is the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development and a Member of the National Assembly for the African National Congress (ANC). She is also the current head of the African National Congress's economic transformation subcommittee in the national executive committee (NEC). She was the Minister of Energy in 2017, the Minister of Communications from 2017 to 2018, the Minister of Science and Technology from 2018 to 2019, Minister of Tourism from 2019 to 2021, and Minister of Human Settlements from 2021 to 2024.

Contents

Early life, education and career

Mmamoloko Kubayi was born and raised in Soweto. She and her family lived in a shack. Her mother was a domestic worker and an African National Congress supporter. Kubayi became pregnant at the age of 17 and gave birth to a son. Despite challenges, she matriculated from Thusa-Setjhaba Secondary School in 1997 as the school's top achiever and subsequently became involved in student politics. She attended the Vista University's Soweto campus and graduated with a BA Degree in Psychology and Sociology in 2000. She achieved a Project Management Diploma from Damelin in 2002. [1]

Kubayi was first employed as a Community Developer in the non-governmental sector. She was soon employed at First National Bank as a Skills Development Specialist, and, later on, found employment in the Business Banking Division at Nedbank. She soon worked in the public sector as a Skills Development Facilitator at the National Health Laboratory Services. [1]

In 2015, she achieved a master's degree in Public Administration from the University of the Witwatersrand. [2]

Political career and activism

Kubayi, while still in Vista University, joined the ANC Youth League and was elected to the university's SRC. After working at the National Health Laboratory Services, she briefly became a director in the Office of the then-Deputy President of South Africa, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka. [1] [3]

In 2006, she was elected an ANC PR Councillor of the City of Johannesburg and became the chairperson of the municipality's Portfolio Committee on Transport. At that exact time, she also served as a Provincial Executive Council (PEC) member of the ANC Youth League in Gauteng and soon became the Deputy Provincial Secretary of the ANCYL. [1] [3]

Kubayi was elected a Member of Parliament in 2009. She then worked as the Parliamentary Counsellor to the newly appointed Deputy President of South Africa, Kgalema Motlanthe. [3]

In her capacity as an MP, she has served as a Whip of the Parliamentary Committees on Basic and Higher Education and Training, Private Members’ Legislative Proposals and Petitions. She was also acting Deputy Chief Whip of the ANC Caucus and a member of the Standing Committee on Appropriations, the Rules Committee and the Programming Committee. Most recently, she served as chairperson of both the Telecommunications and Postal Services Portfolio Committees. [3]

In March 2017, President Jacob Zuma appointed her as the new Minister of Energy. She succeeded Tina Joemat-Pettersson. Her appointment was seen as an advancement for the implementation of the controversial nuclear deal. [4] [5] [6]

She briefly served until October 2017 when she was named Minister of Communications. [7] In February 2018, newly appointed President Cyril Ramaphosa announced her as Minister of Science and Technology. [8]

Following the May 2019 elections, Kubayi was appointed Minister of Tourism, succeeding Derek Hanekom. [9] In June 2021, she was appointed acting minister of health after Zweli Mkhize was placed on leave over corruption allegations. [10]

During a cabinet reshuffle on 5 August 2021, Kubayi was appointed as Minister of Human Settlements by president Ramaphosa. [11] She was reappointed in this position after the 2024 election, and was sworn in again on 3 July 2024. [12] She was reshuffled to Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development in December 2024. [13]

Personal life

She married Joel Sihle Ngubane on 16 September 2017 and separated in April 2021 [14] They later finalised their divorce.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Naledi Pandor</span> South African politician (born 1953)

Grace Naledi Mandisa Pandor is a South African politician, educator and academic who served as the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation until 2024. She also served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for the African National Congress (ANC) from 1994 to 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lindiwe Sisulu</span> South African politician (born 1954)

Lindiwe Nonceba Sisulu is a South African politician. She represented the African National Congress (ANC) in the National Assembly of South Africa between April 1994 and March 2023. During that time, from 2001 to 2023, she served continuously in the cabinet as a minister under four consecutive presidents. President Cyril Ramaphosa sacked her from his cabinet in March 2023, precipitating her resignation from the National Assembly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tina Joemat-Pettersson</span> South African politician (1963–2023)

Tina Monica Joemat-Pettersson was a South African politician who served as the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police from July 2019 until her death in June 2023. A member of the African National Congress, Joemat-Petterson had previously served as the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries from 2009 until 2014 and as the Minister of Energy from May 2014 until March 2017 under President Jacob Zuma.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Angie Motshekga</span> South African politician

Matsie Angelina "Angie" Motshekga is a South African politician and educator who is currently serving as the Minister of Defense and Military Veterans since 3 July 2024. She served as the acting president of the Republic of South Africa from the 17th August 2024, while President Cyril Ramaphosa attended the 44th Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Southern African Development Community in Harare, Zimbabwe. Motshekga also served as the Minister of Basic Education from May 2009 to 2024. She was previously a Member of the Executive Council in the Gauteng provincial government. Motshekga is a member of the African National Congress. She is a former president of the party's women's league.

The Department of Energy is the department of the South African government responsible for energy policy. It was established in 2009 when the former Department of Minerals and Energy was divided into the Department of Energy and the Department of Mineral Resources.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thulas Nxesi</span> South African politician (born 1959)

Thembelani Waltermade "Thulas" Nxesi is a South African politician and former trade unionist who was the Minister of Employment and Labour from May 2019 to June 2024. 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams</span> South African politician

Stella Tembisa Ndabeni-Abrahams is a South African politician who is currently serving as the Minister of Small Business Development since 5 August 2021. She previously served as Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies from November 2018 to August 2021. She is a member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) and a National Working Committee (NWC) of the African National Congress (ANC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ayanda Dlodlo</span> South African politician

Ayanda Dlodlo is a South African politician and former cabinet minister. A former member of Umkhonto we Sizwe, she became a Member of Parliament for the African National Congress (ANC) in 2009. Thereafter, she was appointed Minister of Communications (2017), Minister of Home Affairs (2017–2018), Minister of Public Service and Administration, and Minister of State Security (2019–2021).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hlengiwe Mkhize</span> South African politician (1952–2021)

Hlengiwe Buhle Mkhize was a South African politician who served as Minister of Higher Education and Training and Minister of Home Affairs under President Jacob Zuma. A member of the National Assembly and national executive since May 2009, she was Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities when she died in September 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tokozile Xasa</span> South African politician (born 1965)

Tokozile Xasa is a South African politician who was the Minister of Sport and Recreation from February 2018 to May 2019. Before that, she was the Minister of Tourism from March 2017 to February 2018. A member of the National Assembly between 2009 and 2019, she took office as South African Ambassador to Belgium in February 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pinky Kekana</span> South African politician (born 1966)

Pinky Sharon Kekana is a South African politician from Limpopo who is currently the Deputy Minister of Public Service and Administration. A member of the African National Congress (ANC), she has served in the National Assembly of South Africa since May 2014 and in the national executive since February 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mondli Gungubele</span> South African politician

Mondli Gungubele is a South African politician and trade unionist who is the current Deputy Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies and a member of the National Assembly of South Africa for the African National Congress. He previously served as Executive Mayor of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (2010–2016), as Deputy Minister of Finance (2018–2019), as Chairperson of the Social Development Committee (2019–2021) and as Minister in the Presidency (2021–2023).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Candith Mashego-Dlamini</span> South African politician (born 1960)

Kwati Candith Mashego-Dlamini is a South African politician from Mpumalanga. She served as the Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation from May 2019 until June 2024, and she also served as Deputy Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform from 2014 to 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elizabeth Thabethe</span> South African politician and trade unionist (1959–2021)

Elizabeth Thabethe was a South African politician and former trade unionist from Gauteng. She represented the African National Congress (ANC) in the National Assembly of South Africa for five terms from May 1994 to May 2019. Between 2005 and 2019, she served as a deputy minister in the national governments of four successive presidents. After leaving the National Assembly, she was special investment envoy to President Cyril Ramaphosa until her death in March 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sindisiwe Chikunga</span> South African politician (born 1958)

Sindisiwe Lydia Chikunga is a South African politician who is serving as the Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities since 2024. A member of the African National Congress, she has been a Member of the National Assembly of South Africa since 2004. Chikunga had previously served as Deputy Minister of Transport twice, from 2012 to 2019 and again from 2021 to 2023, as Deputy Minister of Public Service and Administration from 2019 until 2021, and as Minister of Transport from 2023 to 2024. She is a midwife by profession.

Pamela Tshwete is a South African politician from the Eastern Cape. She is currently serving as Deputy Minister of Human Settlements since August 2021. She has been a member of the National Assembly since 2002 and a deputy minister since 2013.

Dipuo Bertha Letsatsi-Duba is a South African politician who is currently serving as South African Ambassador to Turkey. She served as Minister of State Security in the first cabinet of President Cyril Ramaphosa from February 2018 to May 2019. Before that, she was Deputy Minister of Public Service and Administration from March 2017 to February 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Enoch Godongwana</span> South African politician

Enoch Godongwana is a South African politician and former trade unionist who is currently serving as the Minister of Finance since August 2021. He is a member of the National Executive Committee of the African National Congress (ANC).

Ncediso Goodenough "Zizi" Kodwa is a South African politician and communications strategist who served as the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture from March 2023 until his resignation in June 2024. Before that, he was the Deputy Minister of State Security from 2019 to 2023. He was formerly the national spokesperson of the African National Congress (ANC) from 2014 to 2018.

Nokuzola Gladys Tolashe, also known as Sisisi "Sisi" Tolashe, is a South African politician from the Eastern Cape. She is the current Minister of Social Development since June 2024. She was also elected as president of the African National Congress (ANC) Women's League in July 2023. In government, Tolashe was the Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities from March 2023 to 30 June 2024.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Blignaut, Charl (17 December 2018). "Kubayi-Ngubane: From pregnant teen to political powerhouse". News24. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  2. "Ramaphosa names Nkhensani Kubayi-Ngubane as South Africa's new Tourism Minister". voyagesafriq. 30 May 2019. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Introducing the executives Cyril Ramaphosa has chosen to serve SA". BusinessLIVE. 30 May 2019. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  4. Davis, Gaye (31 March 2017). "Rise and rise: New energy minister marks one of Zuma's biggest promotions". EWN. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  5. "Zuma names 10 new ministers, 10 new deputies". IOL. 31 March 2017. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  6. "#CabinetReshuffle: Meet your new cabinet ministers". IOL. 1 April 2017. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  7. "BREAKING: Zuma reshuffles Cabinet". News24. 17 October 2017. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  8. New deputy president, finance minister announced in major Cabinet reshuffle, Mail & Guardian, 26 February 2018. Retrieved on 18 August 2019.
  9. Nicolson, Greg. Ramaphosa cuts Cabinet from 36 to 28 ministers, half of whom are women, The Daily Maverick, 29 May 2019. Retrieved on 18 August 2019.
  10. Dludla, Nqobile (8 June 2021). "South Africa's health minister put on special leave over graft allegations". Reuters. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  11. "Cabinet reshuffle: Meet your new ministers of health, defence and in the presidency". News24. 5 August 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  12. "Historic day for SA as government of national unity ministers take oath of office". Daily Maverick. 3 July 2024. Archived from the original on 3 July 2024. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  13. O'Regan, Victoria (3 December 2024). "Ramaphosa axes Simelane as justice minister — but keeps her in the Cabinet". Daily Maverick.
  14. Husband’s old R11m tender haunts minister, City Press, 11 March 2019. Retrieved on 18 August 2019.