Fikile April Mbalula (born 1 April 1971 in the Free State) is a South African politician who is currently serving in the cabinet as Minister of Transport. He previously served as both Minister and Deputy Minister of Police and Minister of Sports and Recreation. Mbalula is the Secretary-General of the

African National Congress The African National Congress (ANC) is a Social democracy, social-democratic political party in Republic of South Africa, South Africa. A liberation movement known for its opposition to apartheid, it has governed the country since 1994, when ...

(ANC) and a former leader of the

African National Congress Youth League The African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) is the youth wing of the African National Congress (ANC). As set out in its constitution, the ANC Youth League is led by a National Executive Committee (NEC) and a National Working Committee (NW ...

. Mbalula also serves as the head of elections for the

. Mbalula was elected Secretary-General of the ANC at the 55th National Conference of the African National Congress in December 2022.

Career

Mbalula was appointed Deputy Minister of Police in the cabinet of Jacob Zuma in May 2009 and later became the Minister of Sport and Recreation after President Jacob Zuma changed his cabinet. On 31 March 2017, following a controversial reshuffling in the cabinet, Mbalula was appointed as Minister of Police taking over from

Nathi Nhleko Nkosinathi Phiwayinkosi Thamsanqa Nhleko (born 10 October 1964) is a South African politician and former trade unionist from KwaZulu-Natal. He was the Minister of Police and Minister of Public Works in the second cabinet of President Jacob Zu ...

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 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 (, meaning "Sanctuary" in Northern SothoPolokwane - The Heart of the Limpopo Province ...

conference in December 2007 in 15th place, measured in the 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 Sello Malema (born 3 March 1981) is a South African politician and activist who is a Member of Parliament and the leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), a left-wing party which he founded in 2013. He was formerly the President of ...

to succeed him as head of the Youth League in what was seen as a move to ensure continuing League support for Zuma. In May 2019, President

Cyril Ramaphosa Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa (born 17 November 1952) is a South African businessman and politician who is currently serving as the fifth democratically elected president of South Africa. Formerly an anti-apartheid activist, trade union leader, and ...

appointed Mbalula to the post of Minister of Transport, succeeding

Blade Nzimande Bonginkosi Emmanuel "Blade" Nzimande (born 14 April 1958 in Edendale near Pietermaritzburg) is a South African politician, sociologist, philosopher, educator, anti-apartheid activist and Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology. H ...

.New Minister of Transport: What should Fikile Mbalula focus on to improve road safety?
Retrieved on 11 June 2019.

References

External links

Asmal must 'die': MK Vets
''IOL'' {{DEFAULTSORT:Mbalula, Fikile 1971 births Living people People from the Free State (province) Xhosa people African National Congress politicians South African Ministers for Sport and Recreation Members of the National Assembly of South Africa