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Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka |
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Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka
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| In office 22 June 2005 – 24 September 2008 |
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| Preceded by | Jacob Zuma |
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| Succeeded by | Baleka Mbete1 |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 1994 |
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Minister of Minerals and Energy
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| In office 1999 – 2005 |
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Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry
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| In office 1996 – 1999 |
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| Born | 3 November 1955 Transkei, Union of South Africa |
| Political party | African National Congress |
| Spouse | Bulelani Ngucka |
| Children | one biological four adopted |
| Religion | Christian |
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka (pronounced [pʰumziːle mlamboŋǀʱuːkʼa]; born 3 November 19552) is a South African politician who was Deputy President of South Africa from 2005 to 2008. She was the first woman to hold the position and was the highest ranking woman in the history of South Africa. She is married to the former head of the National Prosecuting Authority, Bulelani Ngcuka.
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She obtained a bachelor's degree in social science and education from the National University of Lesotho in 1980, as well as a master's degree in philosophy from the University of Cape Town in 2003, which dealt with educational planning and policy.
From 1981 to 1983 she taught in KwaZulu-Natal, after which she moved to Geneva to work with the World Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) from 1984 to 1989, as the organisation's Youth Director, where she advocated for job creation for young people within the UN system and promoted development education in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. During this time she also founded and directed the Young Women's International Programme. From 1987 to 1989 she was director of TEAM, a developmental Non-Government Organisation (NGO) in Cape Town, as well as being involved with squatter women and African independent churches to promote economic self-reliance and running skills training programmes. From 1990 to 1992 she was director of World University Services, a funding agency, as well as being involved in the management of funds donated to development organisations by Swedish and Swiss government development agencies. She started and managed her own management consulting company, Phumelela Services, during 1993 and 1994.
In 1994 Mrs Mlambo-Ngcuka became a Member of Parliament, chairing the Public Service Portfolio Committee. She was deputy minister in the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) from 1996 until 1999, during which time she also was a founding member of the Guguletu Community Development Corporation. From 1997 she served as member of the national executive committee of the African National Congress (ANC), as well as being the provincial vice-chairperson of the ANC Western Cape.
Mlambo-Ngcuka was Minister of Minerals and Energy from June 1999 to June 2005. She served as acting Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology from February 2004 to April 2004.2
She led the Southern African Development Community mission to observe the controversial 2005 Zimbabwe parliamentary election, which congratulated "the people of Zimbabwe for holding a peaceful, credible and well-mannered election which reflects the will of the people".
On 22 June 2005, President Thabo Mbeki appointed her as deputy president of South Africa, after he relieved Jacob Zuma of the post the week before (Mlambo-Ngcuka's husband Bulelani Ngcuka had been instrumental in bringing the charges against Zuma). Soon after her appointment she was booed by Zuma supporters at a rally in KwaZulu-Natal, an incident that was not covered by the public broadcaster, the SABC, which led to accusations of bias.3 In August 2005 she controversially stated that South Africa could learn about land reform from Zimbabwe. This comment caused alarm and was condemned by the parliamentary opposition.4
In December 2007, she failed to be elected to the ANC's National Executive Committee.5
President Mbeki resigned in September 2008 after the National Executive Committee, objecting to Mbeki's alleged misconduct in his power struggle with Jacob Zuma, decided to recall him. Soon afterward, Mlambo-Ngcuka submitted her resignation on September 23, along with a large portion of the Cabinet.6
She has been Minister of Minerals and Energy since 17 June 1999. During her tenure, the parastatal company PetroSA made an advance payment of ZAR15 million (approx. $1.5m) to a private company Imvume, which in turn made a ZAR11 million donation to the ANC ahead of the 2004 elections. It is alleged that Imvume has close links to the ANC. These events have been dubbed the "Oilgate" scandal by the South African media 7 amid allegations of a cover-up 8. Mlambo-Ngcuka's brother Bongo Mlambo was also implicated in the scandal 9.
Mrs Mlambo-Ngcuka faced another scandal in January 2006 when it emerged that she went with her family and a friend Thuthukile Mazibuko-Skweyiya in December 2005, on a taxpayer-funded holiday at the cost of ZAR4 million to the United Arab Emirates 10. This scandal was dubbed the Gravy Plane scandal by the South African media, and came at a sensitive time, as the ANC was preparing to fight local government elections.
| Preceded by Jacob Zuma |
Deputy President of South Africa 2005-2008 |
Succeeded by Baleka Mbete |
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