Fikile Mbalula facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fikile Mbalula
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Mbalula in January 2019
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| Secretary-General of the African National Congress | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assumed office 19 December 2022 |
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| President | Cyril Ramaphosa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deputy |
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| Preceded by | Ace Magashule | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Member of the National Assembly | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 22 May 2019 – 6 March 2023 |
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| Succeeded by | Motalane Monakedi | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 6 May 2009 – 26 February 2018 |
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| Succeeded by | Ellen Molekane | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Constituency | National list | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| President of the African National Congress Youth League | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office August 2004 – April 2008 |
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| Deputy | Rubben Mohlaloga | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Malusi Gigaba | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Julius Malema | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born |
Fikile April Mbalula
8 April 1971 Botshabelo, South Africa |
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| Political party | African National Congress | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse | Nozuko Mbalula | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Relatives | Jabu Mbalula (brother) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation | Politician | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Fikile April Mbalula (born 8 April 1971) is a South African politician. He is the Secretary-General of the African National Congress (ANC), a major political party in South Africa. He took on this important role in December 2022.
Before this, Mbalula served as a minister in South Africa's government for many years. He was the Minister of Transport from 2019 to 2023. He also held other key positions, including Minister of Police and Minister of Sport and Recreation.
Mbalula became well-known as the President of the ANC Youth League from 2004 to 2008. During this time, he was a strong supporter of Jacob Zuma, who later became president. Mbalula helped run the ANC's election campaigns and has been a key figure in the party for a long time.
In 2022, he was elected to the full-time job of ANC Secretary-General. This led him to step down from his government position as Minister of Transport to focus on his duties for the party.
Contents
Early Life and Political Start
Fikile Mbalula was born on a farm near Botshabelo, a township near Bloemfontein. He grew up in Botshabelo and became involved in politics as a teenager. He joined youth groups that were part of the movement against apartheid, the system of racial segregation in South Africa.
When the African National Congress (ANC) was allowed to operate freely in 1990, Mbalula joined its youth structures. He quickly moved up the ranks in the ANC Youth League (ANCYL). By 1994, he was the Provincial Secretary for the league in his region.
Rise in the ANC Youth League
National Leadership
In 1996, Mbalula took on a national role in the ANCYL. By 1998, he was elected as the league's national Secretary-General, working alongside ANCYL President Malusi Gigaba. They were both re-elected in 2001.
In August 2004, Mbalula became the President of the ANCYL. This position made him a famous figure in South African politics. He was known for his energetic and populist style, meaning he appealed directly to ordinary people.
Support for Jacob Zuma
Mbalula was a strong supporter of Jacob Zuma's campaign to become the president of the ANC. He was a key figure in organizing demonstrations and rallies to show support for Zuma.
At the ANC's national conference in Polokwane in December 2007, Zuma was elected president of the party. At the same conference, Mbalula was elected to the ANC's National Executive Committee (NEC). The NEC is the party's main decision-making group. He was also put in charge of the ANC's election campaigns.
After his time in the ANCYL, Mbalula worked at the ANC's headquarters, Luthuli House. He successfully managed the party's campaign for the 2009 general election, which saw Jacob Zuma become President of South Africa.
Career in Government
Deputy Minister and Minister of Sport
After the 2009 election, President Zuma appointed Mbalula as the Deputy Minister of Police. He became known for his focus on making police more visible in communities.
In a cabinet change in October 2010, Mbalula was promoted to Minister of Sport and Recreation. He focused on improving sports in schools and communities. He also wanted to make sure that sports teams in South Africa were diverse and represented all people.
Mbalula was a vocal supporter of South African sports but was also a tough critic. He famously called the national soccer team, Bafana Bafana, "a bunch of losers" after a poor performance, showing his passion for the country's success.
Competing for a Top ANC Job
At the ANC's national conference in Mangaung in December 2012, Mbalula competed for the position of ANC Secretary-General. He ran against the current Secretary-General, Gwede Mantashe, who was a close ally of President Zuma.
Mbalula was not successful in his bid and also lost his spot on the NEC. However, he remained Minister of Sport and was later brought back onto the NEC in 2015.
Minister of Police and Transport
In March 2017, President Zuma appointed Mbalula as the Minister of Police. He promised to be tough on crime and worked to improve the police service.
After Cyril Ramaphosa became president in 2018, Mbalula left the cabinet for a short time to work full-time as the ANC's head of elections. He ran the party's campaign for the 2019 general election.
Following the 2019 election, President Ramaphosa appointed him as the Minister of Transport. In this role, he focused on improving South Africa's roads and railways.
ANC Secretary-General
In the lead-up to the ANC's 55th National Conference in December 2022, Mbalula supported Ramaphosa's re-election as ANC President. Mbalula himself ran for the powerful position of ANC Secretary-General.
On 19 December 2022, he was declared the winner. As the Secretary-General's job is a full-time position at Luthuli House, Mbalula resigned from his role as Minister of Transport and from Parliament in March 2023 to focus on his party duties.
Personal Life
Mbalula is known for his colorful personality and his active use of social media, especially Twitter. He has given himself nicknames like "Razzmatazz" and "Mr Fix".
He is married to Nozuko Mbalula, and they have children. His older brother, Jabu, is also a politician in the Free State provincial government.
See also
In Spanish: Fikile Mbalula para niños
