Thulas Nxesi

1995–2009

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]

Nxesi had been ranked 109th on the ANC's national-to-national list for the 2024 general election. Due to the ANC's drop in electoral support, Nxesi was not re-elected to Parliament. ^[43]

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. ^[44]

References

1. "Thembelani Thulas Nxesi, Mr". South African Government. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
2. "Minister T T Nxesi". 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. "Non Aligned Movement (NAM) Committee on Palestine Meeting in Ramallah". 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. Merten, Marianne (5 June 2024). "The ANC haemorrhaging continues — Cele, Modise, Zulu and Pandor won't return as MPs". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
44. "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

The Honourable Thulas Nxesi
Nxesi in Parliament in September 2019
Minister of Employment and Labour
In office 30 May 2019 –19 June 2024

v t e Second Cabinet of Jacob Zuma (2014–2018)
President	Jacob Zuma
Deputy President	Cyril Ramaphosa
Ministers	2014–2015 Collins Chabane Nhlanhla Nene 2014–2017 Pravin Gordhan Derek Hanekom Tina Joemat-Pettersson Blade Nzimande Dipuo Peters Ngoako Ramatlhodi 2014–2018 Lynne Brown Siyabonga Cwele Rob Davies Bathabile Dlamini Malusi Gigaba David Mahlobo Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula Michael Masutha Fikile Mbalula Nomvula Mokonyane Edna Molewa Angie Motshekga Aaron Motsoaledi Nathi Mthethwa Faith Muthambi Nkosinathi Nhleko Maite Nkoana-Mashabane Gugile Nkwinti Thulas Nxesi Mildred Oliphant Naledi Pandor Ebrahim Patel Jeff Radebe Susan Shabangu Lindiwe Sisulu Senzeni Zokwana Lindiwe Zulu 2015–2018 Des van Rooyen Mosebenzi Zwane 2017–2018 Bongani Bongo Ayanda Dlodlo Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane Joe Maswanganyi Hlengiwe Mkhize Tokozile Xasa