Sihle Zikalala

Sihle Zikalala (born 6 August 1973) is a South African politician from KwaZulu-Natal who is the 8th and current Premier of KwaZulu-Natal as well as the Provincial Chairperson of the African National Congress (ANC). He has held various leadership positions in the ANC. He is also a Member of the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature after having taken office on 26 November 2015. From 2016 to 2019, he served as the MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs in the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government.[1][2][3][4]

The Honourable

Sihle Zikalala

MPL
Zikalala in 2018
8th Premier of KwaZulu-Natal
Assumed office
27 May 2019
Preceded byWillies Mchunu
KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs
In office
7 June 2016 – 27 May 2019
PremierWillies Mchunu
Preceded byMike Mabuyakhulu
Succeeded byNomusa Dube-Mncube
Chairperson of the African National Congress in KwaZulu-Natal
Assumed office
8 November 2015
DeputyWillies Mchunu
Preceded bySenzo Mchunu
Member of the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature
Assumed office
26 November 2015
Personal details
Born (1973-08-06) 6 August 1973
Ndwedwe, South Africa
NationalitySouth African
Political partyAfrican National Congress
Spouse(s)
Nelly Zikalala
​
(m. 2006)​
Alma materUniversity of KwaZulu-Natal
OccupationPolitician

Early life and education

Sihle Zikalala was born on 6 August 1973 in the town of Ndwedwe in Natal. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Science. In April 2017, he achieved a Bachelor of Administration Honours cum laude from the University of KwaZulu-Natal.[5] Zikalala obtained a master's degree in Commerce from the Graduate School of Business and Leadership in 2019.[6][7]

Political career
Zikalala and Minister Siyabonga Cwele at the 2018 ITU Telecom World Conference

Zikalala joined the African National Congress (ANC) in 1990 and became a full-time organiser for the party in Ndwedwe between 1993 and 1994. He initially established structures for the party. He has held many leadership positions in the African National Congress. Zikalala was a member of the party's Million Meyiwa Branch and served as ANC Zonal Chairperson from 1995 to 1996, before his election to the ANCYL North Durban Regional Executive Committee later on in 1996. He soon became Regional Chairperson in 1997, a post he held until his election as ANCYL Provincial Secretary in 2000.[8]

Zikalala served as a councillor in the Ilembe District Municipality from 1996 to 2000.

He was elected Secretary-General of the African National Congress Youth League in 2004. In 2008, he was elected Deputy Provincial Secretary of the ANC KwaZulu-Natal branch and soon became Provincial Secretary in 2009.[9]

Zikalala was elected Provincial Chairperson on 8 November 2015 after he defeated incumbent Senzo Mchunu by a margin of 105 votes. He received 780 votes out of a total of 1,459 votes. Super Zuma succeeded Zikalala as Provincial Secretary.[10][11]

He was sworn in as a Member of the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature on 26 November 2015 and consequently filled the vacancy created by the resignation of Super Zuma. Following his swearing-in as an MPL, opposition parties staged a walkout of the legislative chamber over Zikalala's decision to sit in the seat that is traditionally reserved for the Premier.[12][13]

On 6 June 2016, newly elected Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Willies Mchunu, appointed Zikalala to the position of MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs. He assumed office on 7 June 2016 and succeeded Michael Mabuyakhulu. He was also appointed as Leader of Government Business in the legislature.[14][15][16][17][18]

Zikalala was re-elected unopposed for a second term as Provincial Chairperson of the party in July 2018.[19]

Following the May 2019 elections, Zikalala was selected as the party's KwaZulu-Natal Premier candidate, succeeding Willies Mchunu. He was elected to the office on 22 May 2019, and officially assumed the post on 27 May 2019. Following his inauguration, he announced his Executive Council, which consists of youthful members.[20][21][22]

Personal life

Zikalala married Nelly Zikalala in April 2006. They have two sons and one daughter.[23]

References
  1. Zikalala puts his foot (or bum) in it, IOL, Pietermaritzburg, 26 November 2015. Retrieved on 19 April 2019.
  2. Stolley, Giordano. ANC dismisses criticism of KZN cabinet reshuffle, Mail & Guardian, 9 June 2016. Retrieved on 19 April 2019.
  3. Celebrations as Sihle Zikalala's elected new KZNANC chairperson, eNCA, 8 November 2015. Retrieved on 19 April 2019.
  4. New KZN MECs sworn in, The Citizen, 7 June 2016. Retrieved on 4 July 2019.
  5. KZN MEC Graduates With BAdmin Degree Cum Laude, Ndaba Online, 7 April 2017. Retrieved on 19 April 2019.
  6. Singh, Karen. Watch: KZN Premier among grad students at UKZN, IOL, 17 September 2019. Retrieved on 22 September 2019.
  7. Silekwa, Bukeka. PICS: KZN Premier, former Public Protector and Durban Metro cop all get degrees at UKZN, Durba, IOL, 13 September 2019. Retrieved on 22 September 2019.
  8. Jacob Zuma cronies lobby against KZN chair Sihle Zikalala, The Sunday Times, 4 November 2018. Retrieved on 29 July 2019.
  9. Khoza, Amanda. Meet KZN's new MECs, News24, 7 June 2016. Retrieved on 19 April 2019.
  10. ANC welcomes Zikalala's election as KZN chair, Eyewitness News, 8 November 2015. Retrieved on 19 April 2019.
  11. Quintal, Genevieve. Sihle Zikalala ANC KZN's new chairperson, News24, 8 November 2015. Retrieved on 3 July 2019.
  12. Maqhina, Mayibongwe. Zikalala to fill vacant legislature post, IOL, Durban, 24 November 2015. Retrieved on 19 April 2019.
  13. Stolley, Giordano. Zikalala to be sworn in as MPL, IOL, 25 November 2015. Retrieved on 19 April 2019.
  14. Zikalala in charge of govt business. Retrieved on 19 April 2019.
  15. Stolley, Giordano. #ANCKZN settling political scores: opposition, Durban, IOL, 6 June 2016. Retrieved on 3 July 2019.
  16. Maqhina, Mayibongwe. KZN premier chops and changes cabinet, IOL, 6 June 2016. Retrieved on 3 July 2019.
  17. UPDATED: Cabinet reshuffle in KwaZulu-Natal, eNCA, 6 June 2016. Retrieved on 3 July 2019.
  18. New KZN Executive Council sworn-in. Retrieved on 3 July 2019.
  19. Harper, Paddy. ANC KZN conference: Zikalala elected unopposed, Mail & Guardian, 21 July 2018. Retrieved on 19 April 2019.
  20. Mavuso, Sihle. Sihle Zikalala given KZN premier role, IOL, Durban, 13 May 2019. Retrieved on 13 May 2019.
  21. Mthethwa, Bongani. KZN premier-elect Sihle Zikalala to be sworn in on Wednesday, TimesLIVE, 20 May 2019. Retrieved on 22 May 2019.
  22. Harper, Paddy. Zikalala appoints youthful cabinet in KZN, Mail & Guardian, 27 May 2019. Retrieved on 4 July 2019.
  23. A day politics is set aside for love. Retrieved on 19 April 2019.
Political offices
Preceded by
Willies Mchunu		 8th Premier of KwaZulu-Natal
2019–present		 Incumbent
Preceded by
Mike Mabuyakhu		 KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs
2016–2019		 Succeeded by
Nomusa Dube-Mncube
Party political offices
Preceded by
Senzo Mchunu		 Provincial Chairperson of the African National Congress
2015–present		 Incumbent
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