Joel Netshitenzhe was head of the policy and coordination advisory unit in the presidency until the end of December 2009. He previously served as head of South Africa

South Africa

The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...

's Government Communication and Information Systems

Government Communication and Information Systems

The Government Communication and Information System is a South African government-owned corporation that is primarily charged with managing public communication of government actions and policy. It falls under the authority of the Ministry in The Presidency, which appoints the CEO of GCIS.The CEO...

 (GCIS) from 1998 to 2006.

As a key political strategist for South African President Thabo Mbeki

Thabo Mbeki

Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki is a South African politician who served two terms as the second post-apartheid President of South Africa from 14 June 1999 to 24 September 2008. He is also the brother of Moeletsi Mbeki...

, Netshitenzhe is considered one of the country's most powerful political players. As head of the GCIS, his role is effectively to head up the president's policy unit.

Netshitenzhe was at one stage considered as a possible contender in the country's forthcoming presidential elections

President of South Africa

The President of the Republic of South Africa is the head of state and head of government under South Africa's Constitution. From 1961 to 1994, the head of state was called the State President....

 due to his close working relationship with Mbeki. However, after Mbeki rival Jacob Zuma

Jacob Zuma

Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma is the President of South Africa, elected by parliament following his party's victory in the 2009 general election....

 assumed the presidency of the ruling African National Congress

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...

 in December 2007, Netshitenzhe's prospects looked to have diminished significantly. He has, however, retained his place on the party's influential National Executive Committee

National Executive Committee (African National Congress)

The ANC National Executive Committee is the chief executive organ of the South African political party, the African National Congress. It is elected at every National Conference; the executive committee, in turn, elects a National Working Committee for day-to-day decision-making responsibilities.On...

, where he is on the economic transformation and political education subcommittees.