Fikile Mbalula
Encyclopedia
Fikile Mbalula is the minister of sport in the Cabinet of South Africa, a former deputy minister of police, a member of the national executive committee of the African National Congress
and former leader of the African National Congress Youth League
.
In the 2009 general elections
he was the manager of the ANC election campaign, which was considered highly successful.
Mbalula was elected to the ANC NEC at the party's Polokwane
conference in December 2007 in 15th place, measured in number of votes. He subsequently retired as president of the ANC Youth League of which, at age 36, he was no longer eligible to be a member.
Mbalula was elected president of the ANC Youth League in August 2004, having previously held the post of secretary general.
Mbalula has been credited with installing South African President Thabo Mbeki in that position, and for later deposing him as head of the ANC. His support has also been described as key in gaining Zuma the ANC presidency in a hard-fought race with Mbeki.
He also supported the candidacy of Julius Malema
to succeed him as head of the Youth League in what was seen as a move to ensure continuing League support for Zuma.
to Bombay, saying black students were left on the periphery while those of India
n descent swelled the ranks.
In December 2007, amid rising tensions in the run-up to the ANC's Polokwane conference, Mbalula wrote a letter to finance minister Trevor Manuel
calling him arrogant and an "attention-seeking drama queen". This followed Manuel dismissing Mbalula as a "self-appointed spokesperson of the national democratic revolution".
In April 2008 Mbalula said that Barney Pityana
, rector of the University of South Africa
had "made a clown of himself by his overzealous confusion and comical postulations" after Pityana expressed criticism of Zuma.
African National Congress
The African National Congress is South Africa's governing Africanist political party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in April 1994. It defines itself as a...
and former leader of the African National Congress Youth League
African National Congress Youth League
The African National Congress Youth League is the youth wing of the African National Congress.-Foundation:Its foundation in 1944 by Nick Gombart, Ashley Peter Mda, Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu and Oliver Tambo marked the rise of a new generation of leadership of South Africa's black African...
.
Career
Mbalula was appointed deputy minister of police in the cabinet of Jacob Zuma in May 2009 and is now the minister of sport after President Jocob Zuma changed his cabinet after lobbying from the ANC Youth League and possibly as a reward for loyalty towards Zuma, according to media speculation.In the 2009 general elections
South African general election, 2009
South Africa held national and provincial elections to elect a new National Assembly as well as the provincial legislature in each province on 22 April 2009....
he was the manager of the ANC election campaign, which was considered highly successful.
Mbalula was elected to the ANC NEC at the party's Polokwane
Polokwane
Polokwane, meaning "Place of Safety",is a city in the Polokwane Local Municipality and the capital of the Limpopo province, South Africa. It is also often referred to by its former name, Pietersburg. Polokwane is a major urban centre, the biggest and most important north of Gauteng. The population...
conference in December 2007 in 15th place, measured in number of votes. He subsequently retired as president of the ANC Youth League of which, at age 36, he was no longer eligible to be a member.
Mbalula was elected president of the ANC Youth League in August 2004, having previously held the post of secretary general.
Mbalula has been credited with installing South African President Thabo Mbeki in that position, and for later deposing him as head of the ANC. His support has also been described as key in gaining Zuma the ANC presidency in a hard-fought race with Mbeki.
He also supported the candidacy of Julius Malema
Julius Malema
Julius Sello Malema is a South African politician, and the former president of the African National Congress Youth League. Malema occupies a notably controversial position in South African public and political life; having risen to prominence with his support for African National Congress...
to succeed him as head of the Youth League in what was seen as a move to ensure continuing League support for Zuma.
Controversial statements
Known for his flowing speaking style, Mbalula has several times made headlines with controversial statements. In June 2007 he likened the University of KwaZulu-NatalUniversity of KwaZulu-Natal
The University of KwaZulu-Natal or UKZN is a university with five campuses all located in the province of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. It was formed on 1 January 2004 after the merger between the University of Natal and the University of Durban-Westville.-History:-University of...
to Bombay, saying black students were left on the periphery while those of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n descent swelled the ranks.
In December 2007, amid rising tensions in the run-up to the ANC's Polokwane conference, Mbalula wrote a letter to finance minister Trevor Manuel
Trevor Manuel
Trevor Andrew Manuel is a South African politician, currently serving in the Cabinet of South Africa as Minister in the Presidency in charge of the National Planning Commission...
calling him arrogant and an "attention-seeking drama queen". This followed Manuel dismissing Mbalula as a "self-appointed spokesperson of the national democratic revolution".
In April 2008 Mbalula said that Barney Pityana
Barney Pityana
Nyameko Barney Pityana FKC is a human rights lawyer and theologian in South Africa. He is an exponent of Black theology....
, rector of the University of South Africa
University of South Africa
The University of South Africa is a distance education university, with headquarters in Pretoria, South Africa. With approximately 300 000 enrolled students, it qualifies as one of the world's mega universities.-History:...
had "made a clown of himself by his overzealous confusion and comical postulations" after Pityana expressed criticism of Zuma.