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 Zuma. After he was sacked from the cabinet in 2018, he served as a backbencher in the National Assembly until the 2019 general election.
Nathi Nhleko | |
|---|---|
| Member of the National Assembly | |
| In office 27 February 2018 – 7 May 2019 | |
| Constituency | KwaZulu-Natal |
| In office 9 May 1994 – 1 September 2005 | |
| Minister of Public Works | |
| In office 31 March 2017 – 26 February 2018 | |
| President | Jacob Zuma |
| Deputy | Jeremy Cronin |
| Preceded by | Thulas Nxesi |
| Succeeded by | Thulas Nxesi |
| Minister of Police | |
| In office 26 May 2014 – 31 March 2017 | |
| President | Jacob Zuma |
| Deputy | Maggie Sotyu |
| Preceded by | Nathi Mthethwa |
| Succeeded by | Fikile Mbalula |
| Chief Whip of the Majority Party | |
| In office May 2002 – June 2004 | |
| Speaker | Frene Ginwala |
| Preceded by | Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula |
| Succeeded by | Mbulelo Goniwe |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Nkosinathi Phiwayinkosi Thamsanqa Nhleko 10 October 1964 Ndabayakhe, Natal Province South Africa |
| Political party | African National Congress |
| Alma mater | Leeds Metropolitan University |
Raised in Empangeni, Nhleko rose to prominence as the general secretary of the Transport and General Workers' Union from 1989 to 1993. He was elected to the first post-apartheid Parliament in May 1994 and represented the African National Congress (ANC) in the National Assembly until September 2005. During that time, he served as Chief Whip of the Majority Party from 2002 to 2004. From 2005 to 2014, he took a hiatus from legislative politics to work in business and public administration, including as correctional services commissioner in Kwa-Zulu-Natal and as director-general in the Department of Labour.
In May 2014, Nhleko returned to national government as Minister of Police, an office he held until March 2017. During this period, he made several controversial decisions, including recommending that Zuma should be absolved of personal liability in Nkandlagate. After a cabinet reshuffle, he served as Minister of Public Works from March 2017 until February 2018, when he was sacked by Zuma's successor, President Cyril Ramaphosa.