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Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, The First Female Deputy President of South Africa

July 3, 2024

Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, The First Female Deputy President of South Africa

Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka is a prominent South African politician and advocate known for her tireless efforts in promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment on a global scale.

Her journey from activist to a leading figure in international diplomacy has been marked by significant milestones and contributions to socio-economic development, particularly focusing on issues affecting women and girls.

Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka Biography

Born on November 3, 1955, in Claremont, South Africa, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka grew up during the turbulent era of apartheid. Her experiences of witnessing racial injustice and inequality would later shape her commitment to social justice and equality. She pursued her education at the University of Lesotho, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Social Science, and later at the University of Cape Town, where she completed a Master’s degree in Philosophy.

Early life and education

Mlambo-Ngcuka obtained a bachelor’s degree in social science and education from the National University of Lesotho in 1980, as well as a master’s degree in philosophy from the University of Cape Town in 2003, which dealt with educational planning and policy.

In 2013 she completed a doctorate from the University of Warwick. The work covered using mobile technologies to support Teacher Development in resource poor nations. She was awarded an honorary doctorate from Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in 2014.

Youth development

From 1981 to 1983 Mlambo-Ngcuka taught in KwaZulu-Natal, after which she moved to Geneva to work with the World Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) from 1984 to 1989.

As the organisation’s Youth Director, where she advocated for job creation for young people within the UN system and promoted development education in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

Mlambo-Ngcuka was the first president of the Natal Organisation of Women. During this time she also founded and directed the Young Women’s International Programme.

From 1987 to 1989 Mlambo-Ngcuka was director of TEAM, a developmental Non-Government Organisation (NGO) in Cape Town. She was also involved with squatter women and African independent churches to promote economic self-reliance and running skills training programmes.

From 1990 to 1992 she was director of World University Service, a funding agency, as well as being involved in the management of funds donated to development organisations by Swedish and Swiss government development agencies.

She started and managed her own management consulting company, Phumelela Services, during 1993 and 1994.Throughout her career, Mlambo-Ngcuka directed her energy towards issues of human rights, gender and youth development, equality and social justice.

Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka Family

Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka is married to Bulelani Ngcuka, a prominent lawyer and politician who served as the first National Director of Public Prosecutions in South Africa. The couple’s marriage has been marked by mutual support and shared values, particularly in the areas of justice and human rights.

Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka and her husband Bulelani Ngcuka

Together, Phumzile and Bulelani Ngcuka have five children. Their family life, though kept relatively private, is characterized by a strong commitment to education and service. Mlambo-Ngcuka often speaks about the importance of family support in her career and the balance she strives to maintain between her professional responsibilities and personal life.

Career in National Politics

Member of Parliament

In 1994 Mlambo-Ngcuka became a Member of Parliament, chairing the Public Service Portfolio Committee. She was deputy minister in the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) from 1996 until 1999. During which time she also was a founding member of the Guguletu Community Development Corporation.

From 1997 she served as member of the national executive committee of the African National Congress (ANC), as well as being the provincial vice-chairperson of the ANC Western Cape.

Mlambo-Ngcuka was Minister of Minerals and Energy from June 1999 to June 2005. During this time she was a driving force behind the government’s policy of creating New Order Mining Rights.

That ended a period where big mining firms which controlled nearly all South Africa’s minerals reserves, were able to hold mining rights to them in perpetuity.

Mlambo-Ngcuka’s policy of ‘use it or lose it’ created a situation where mining rights became available to a much broader segment of the population including many previously disadvantaged black people. She served as acting Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology from February 2004 to April 2004.

She led the Southern African Development Community mission to observe the 2005 Zimbabwe parliamentary election. Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka congratulated the people of Zimbabwe for holding a peaceful, credible and well-mannered election which reflects the will of the people.

Oilgate

During Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka’s tenure as Minister of Minerals and Energy. The parastatal company PetroSA made an advance payment of ZAR15 million (approx. $1.5 million) to a private company Imvume, which in turn made a ZAR11 million donation to the ANC ahead of the 2004 elections.

It is alleged that Imvume has close links to the ANC. These events have been dubbed the “Oilgate” scandal by South African media. Although there was never any evidence that Mlambo-Ngcuka was involved in any way, media reports cast suspicion on her behaviour.

In order to clear her name, Mlambo-Ngcuka asked South Africa’s Public Protector to investigate the issue. The subsequent report cleared her completely.

Because Mlambo-Ngcuka’s brother Bonga Mlambo was involved with Imvume on a planned hotel project at the time. He was at first alleged to have been involved in Imvume’s oil business. These allegations also proved to be groundless.

Deputy President

On 22 June 2005, President Thabo Mbeki appointed her as deputy president of South Africa,. After he relieved Jacob Zuma of the post the week before. Mlambo-Ngcuka’s husband, Bulelani Ngcuka, was head of South Africa’s National Directorate of Public Prosecutions at the time and charged with fighting organized crime.

It was the NDPP which had determined that criminal charges should be brought against Zuma. It is Zuma’s position that the charges against him are politically motivated.

Soon after her appointment she was booed by Zuma supporters at a rally in KwaZulu-Natal, an incident that was not covered by the public broadcaster, the SABC, which led to accusations of bias.

In August 2005, commenting on the slow pace of the Willing Buyer Willing Seller land reform program in South Africa, she stated that South Africa could learn about land reform from Zimbabwe. This comment caused alarm and was condemned by the parliamentary opposition.

In December 2007, she lost her position on the ANC’s National Executive Committee after party delegates elected a pro-Zuma slate.

President Mbeki resigned in September 2008 after the National Executive Committee, objecting to Mbeki’s alleged role in Jacob Zuma’s prosecution for criminal activities, decided to recall him.

On 23 September, in the wake of this, most of the South African cabinet resigned, Mlambo-Ngcuka among them. Mlambo-Ngcuka joined COPE in late February 2009, but shortly after rejoined the ANC.

Executive Director of UN Women

On 10 July 2013, Mlambo-Ngcuka was appointed as Executive Director of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women (UN Women) by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. She was sworn into Executive Director of UN Women on 19 August 2013. She succeeds Michelle Bachelet.

Under Mlambo-Ngcuka’s leadership, UN Women worked with Publicis and Ogilvy on launching the HeForShe campaign. Mlambo-Ngcuka in November 2017 welcomed the Elsie Initiative to help increase women’s participation in peacekeeping operations in a joint statement with fellow UN Under-Secretary-General Pramila Patten.

In addition to her role at UN Women, Mlambo-Ngcuka also served a two-year term as member of the World Bank Group’s (WBG) Advisory Council on Gender and Development from 2015 until 2017.

In November 2018, United Nations Secretary General António Guterres appointed her to the United Nations’ Task Force on Digital Financing of Sustainable Development Goals, co-chaired by Maria Ramos and Achim Steiner.

She was awarded Cannes LionHeart Award in 2019 for her work for UN Women and Unstereotype Alliance. Mlambo-Ngcuka left UN Women in August 2021 after serving two terms.

Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka successfully mobilized 40 billion USD in financial commitments from Member States, private sector, philanthropies and civil society as well as young people. These commitments have formed Generational Equality to drive transformative change for women and girls worldwide.

List of Publications by Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka

Progress towards gender parity still slow, uneven- Interview: Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka
The United Nation at 70 and the ongoing quest for gender equality
Becoming UN Women: A journey in realizing rights and gaining global recognition
Sexual Health and Women’s Rights
Mobile learning facilitated ICT teacher development : innovation report
Rural women: the invisible mainstay of sustainability
UN Women bids farewell to Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka

Other Activities by Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka

Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), Ex-Officio Member of the Committee of Cosponsoring Organizations (since 2013)
Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children, Member of the Board (since 2016)
Princess Sabeeka Bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa Global Award for Women’s Empowerment, Member of the International Jury (since 2016)
African Leadership Academy (ALA), Member of the Global Advisory Council
International Gender Champions (IGC), Member
Mandela Rhodes Foundation, Member of the Board of Trustees

In late 2022, Mlambo-Ngcuka acted as one of the mediators for peace negotiations between the Ethiopian government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), in order to end the Tigray War. On 2 November 2022, a peace treaty was signed in Pretoria between Ethiopia and the TPLF. That formally ended the war on 3 November.

Achievements and Recognition

Throughout her career, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka has received numerous accolades and recognition for her contributions to gender equality and social justice. She has been awarded honorary doctorates from several universities for her advocacy work and leadership in advancing women’s rights.

Phumzile is the recipient of several honorary doctorates from top South African universities, including:

Rhodes University (2020)
Wits University (2019)
University of Fort Hare (2016)
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (2014)
University of the Western Cape (2007)
Witwatersrand Technikon (2003)

The former deputy president is a Hauser Leader inductee at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Center for Public Leadership. She is also the recipient of the Vanguard award from Howard University for Leadership and Activism.

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