Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma is a well-known South African politician, medical doctor, and ex anti-apartheid activist. She remains a long-standing member of the African National Congress (ANC) and currently serves as the chancellor of the University of Limpopo.
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma’s Age
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma was born on the 27th of January 1949 in Natal, Union of South Africa. She is 76 years old and typically celebrates her birthday on 27th January.
Early Life and Education
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma was born in Natala to Willibrod Gweva, a teacher, and Rose Gweva, a housewife. She completed her high school in Amanzimtoti at Adams College.
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma matriculated in 1967; she was interested in becoming a lawyer, but due to her father’s request, Dlamini-Zuma decided to take a different path.
She obtained a BSc in Zoology and Botany from the University of Zululand in 1971 before heading to the University of Natal to study medicine.
During her time at the university, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma was an active member of the South African Students Organization and elected deputy president in 1976.
Due to her involvement in diverse political activities, she was arrested at times and even sent into exile in 1976.
Two years later, she completed her medical studies in the United Kingdom from the University of Bristol.
In 1985, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma went to the United Kingdom to finish a diploma in tropical child health from Liverpool University’s School of Tropical Medicine.
Career
Early Career
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma started her medical career at Bristol’s Frenchay Hospital and Berkshire’s Canadian Red Cross Memorial Hospital while serving in ANC’s British regional political committee.
Thereafter, she spent five years in Swaziland as a pediatrician at the Mbabane Government Hospital.
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma continued to work in pediatric care and helped establish and manage the Health Refugee Trust.
In 1989, she returned to Africa and worked for the ANC health department in Zambia.
In 1990, when the ANC was unbanned in South Africa, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma returned. She served on the executive committee and health committee of the Natal branch of the ANC and as a research scientist at the country’s medical research council.
Minister of Health
In 1994, after the country’s first democratic elections, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma was appointed Minister of Health in the cabinet of newly elected president Nelson Mandela.
In 1999, she introduced the Tobacco Products Amendment Bill, which made smoking in public buildings illegal.
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma had a massive issue during her term when she supported the creation of Virodene, a fake remedy for HIV/AIDS.
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma served as South Africa’s minister of foreign affairs for ten years under presidents Thabo Mbeki and Kgalema Motlanthe.
In her first year, she was a mediator among factions of the Rally for Congolese Democracy between Uganda and Rwanda.
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma was tasked with chasing Thabo Mbeki’s aim of reforming the United Nations to increase the power of Global South countries.
She was the president of the 2001 World Conference against racism in Durban and president of the minister’s council at the World Summit in 2002.
In 2005, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma was offered the position of Deputy President after the sacking of Jacob Zuma; she declined the offer.
Minister of Home Affairs
In 2009, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma was appointed home affairs minister in the cabinet of newly elected president Jacob Zuma, her ex-husband.
She maintained the position for three years and was praised for changing the Department of Home Affairs.
During her tenure, the department received its first audit in sixteen years and an excellence award.
Despite the praise, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma was criticized in 2012 when the Dalai Lama was refused a visa and could not attend Desmond Tutu’s birthday.
Minister in the Presidency
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma was appointed a minister in the presidency in 2018. She was part of newly elected president Cyril Ramaphosa’s cabinet and tasked with handling planning, monitoring, and evaluation.
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma served in this capacity as the chairperson of the National Planning Commission and oversaw the National Development Plan.
Minister of Cooperative Governance
After the 2019 general elections, the president’s cabinet was reshuffled, with Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma being moved to the Minister of Cooperative Governance.
She was expected to continue with previously experienced success, as in the Department of Home Affairs.
However, observers criticised Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma as her first three years yielded no success.
Minister of Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities
In 2023, after the reshuffling of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s cabinet, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma was appointed as a minister and tasked with handling affairs involving women, youth, and persons with disabilities.
Family
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma was married to former President Jacob Zuma. Together, they had four daughters before divorcing in 1998.
Net Worth
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma’s net worth is currently undisclosed.