Buyisiwe Maureen Nzimande (born 31 October 1952) is a South African politician and diplomat who was the Deputy Minister of Public Works from 1999 to 2001 under President Thabo Mbeki. She represented the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) in the National Assembly from May 1994 until March 2001, when she resigned to join the diplomatic service.
Buyisiwe Nzimande | |
|---|---|
| Deputy Minister of Public Works | |
| In office June 1999 – January 2001 | |
| Minister | Stella Sigcau |
| Succeeded by | Musa Zondi |
| Member of the National Assembly | |
| In office 9 May 1994 – 31 March 2001 | |
| Constituency | KwaZulu-Natal |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 31 October 1952 Vryheid, Natal Province Union of South Africa |
| Political party | Inkatha Freedom Party |
Early life and career edit
Nzimande was born on 31 October 1952[1] in Vryheid in the former Natal province.[2] She completed a teaching diploma at the University of Zululand in 1978 and later, in 1989, a Bachelor of Arts at the same university. She was a teacher and school principal by profession and served as executive secretary of the Natal African Teachers' Union from 1987 to 1992.[2]
She was also a member of Inkatha (later the IFP) and in her youth had been active in the Inkatha Youth Brigade in Umlazi.[2] Inkatha leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi later said that Nzimande was "like a daughter to me"; they were cousins, with their paternal grandmothers both members of the Mtshali family.[3]
Career in government edit
In South Africa's first post-apartheid elections in 1994, Nzimande was elected to represent the IFP in the National Assembly, the lower house of the new South African Parliament.[4] During her first term, she served as the whip of the IFP's caucus from 1995 to 1997.[2] She was re-elected in 1999, representing the KwaZulu-Natal constituency.[1]
After the 1999 election, newly elected President Thabo Mbeki appointed her as Deputy Minister of Public Works, in which capacity she deputised Minister Stella Sigcau.[2] She served in that office until January 2001, when Mbeki announced that Musa Zondi would replace her in a reshuffle; it was reported that she would become ambassador-designate to Thailand.[5][6] She resigned from her parliamentary seat on 31 March 2001[7] and was indeed appointed as an ambassador.[3]
Personal life edit
She was married to Themba Nzimande, an intellectual, who died in 2019.[3]
References edit
- ^ a b "General Notice: Notice 1319 of 1999 – Electoral Commission: Representatives Elected to the Various Legislatures" (PDF). Government Gazette of South Africa. Vol. 408, no. 20203. Pretoria, South Africa: Government of South Africa. 11 June 1999. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
- ^ a b c d e Women Marching Into the 21st Century: Wathint' Abafazi, Wathint' Imbokodo. HSRC Press. 2000. p. 88. ISBN 978-0-7969-1966-3.
- ^ a b c "Funeral Service For the Late Mr. Themba Nzimande". Inkatha Freedom Party. 15 August 2019. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
- ^ South Africa: Campaign and Election Report April 26–29, 1994. International Republican Institute. 1994. Retrieved 13 April 2023 – via Yumpu.
- ^ "Mbeki goes easy on the pruning shears". The Mail & Guardian. 25 January 2001. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
- ^ "IFP praises Zondi on post". News24. 26 January 2001. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
- ^ "The National Assembly List of Resinations and Nominations". Parliament of South Africa. 2 June 2002. Archived from the original on 2 June 2002. Retrieved 2 April 2023.