Kgalema Motlanthe facts for kids

Quick facts for kids His Excellency Kgalema Motlanthe
Motlanthe in June 2009
3rd President of South Africa
In office 25 September 2008 – 9 May 2009
Deputy	Baleka Mbete
Preceded by	Thabo Mbeki Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri (acting)
Succeeded by	Jacob Zuma
6th Deputy President of South Africa
In office 9 May 2009 – 26 May 2014
President	Jacob Zuma
Preceded by	Baleka Mbete
Succeeded by	Cyril Ramaphosa
8th Deputy President of the African National Congress
In office 18 December 2007 – 18 December 2012
President	Jacob Zuma
Preceded by	Jacob Zuma
Succeeded by	Cyril Ramaphosa
14th Secretary-General of the African National Congress
In office 20 December 1997 – 18 December 2007
President	Thabo Mbeki
Preceded by	Cyril Ramaphosa Cheryl Carolus (acting)
Succeeded by	Gwede Mantashe
Member of the National Assembly
In office 6 May 2009 – 7 May 2014
In office 6 May 2008 – 25 September 2008
Constituency	National list
Additional offices 1991‍–‍present Chairperson of the African National Congress Electoral Committee Incumbent Assumed office 15 February 2021 Preceded by Position established Minister in the Presidency In office July 2008 – September 2008 Serving with Essop Pahad President Thabo Mbeki Preceded by Position established Succeeded by Position abolished 2nd Secretary-General of the National Union of Mineworkers In office June 1991 – 1998 President James Motlatsi Preceded by Cyril Ramaphosa Succeeded by Gwede Mantashe
Personal details
Born	Kgalema Petrus Motlanthe (1949-07-19) 19 July 1949 (age 75) Boksburg, South Africa
Political party	African National Congress
Spouses	Mapula Mokate ​ ​ (m. 1975; div. 2014)​ Gugu Mtshali ​ (m. 2014)​
Children	Kgomotso Kagiso Ntabiseng (step-daughter)
Occupation	Politician trade unionist military veteran activist
Nicknames	Mkhuluwa The Wizard
Military service
Allegiance	African National Congress
Branch/service	uMkhonto weSizwe
Years of service	1977–1987
Battles/wars	Resistance to apartheid

Kgalema Petrus Motlanthe (born 19 July 1949) is a South African politician. He served as the 3rd president of South Africa from September 2008 to May 2009. After that, he was the deputy president under Jacob Zuma until May 2014.

Motlanthe grew up in Soweto after his family was forced to move from Alexandra. He joined uMkhonto weSizwe, the armed part of the African National Congress (ANC). From 1977 to 1987, he was jailed on Robben Island for his fight against Apartheid. After his release, he became a leader in the National Union of Mineworkers. He was the union's general secretary from 1992 to 1998.

After apartheid ended, he became a top leader in the ANC. He was the ANC's secretary general from 1997 to 2007. In 2007, he was elected ANC deputy president. In 2008, he became a Member of Parliament and a minister. Just weeks later, he was elected president of South Africa. This happened after Thabo Mbeki resigned.

As president, Motlanthe worked to keep the country stable. He made important changes, like replacing the Health Minister. He also changed things at the National Prosecuting Authority. In 2009, Jacob Zuma became president, and Motlanthe became his deputy. In 2012, Motlanthe ran for ANC president but lost to Zuma. He then left government and Parliament in 2014. Motlanthe is known for being a respected and thoughtful leader within the ANC.

Early Life and Political Beginnings

Kgalema Motlanthe was born on 19 July 1949 in Alexandra, a township near Johannesburg. His family later had to move to Meadowlands, Soweto, because of apartheid laws. He went to school in Soweto.

As a child, he was an altar boy in the Anglican church. This church helped people in the townships. Later, he was influenced by the Black Consciousness Movement, which encouraged black people to be proud and fight for their rights.

Joining the Anti-Apartheid Struggle

After finishing school, Motlanthe worked for the Johannesburg City Council. In the 1970s, he secretly joined Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK). This was the armed group of the African National Congress (ANC), which was banned at the time. His MK group helped recruit new members and smuggle people in and out of the country. During this time, he met Jacob Zuma.

Years in Prison

In April 1976, Motlanthe was arrested. He was found guilty of being involved in MK activities, like being trained for sabotage and promoting the ANC. He was sentenced to prison.

Motlanthe spent almost ten years on Robben Island, from 1977 to 1987. This island prison held many political prisoners, including Nelson Mandela. An ANC leader, Andrew Mlangeni, said Motlanthe helped teach younger prisoners about politics.

Becoming a Trade Union Leader

In June 1987, after being released from prison, Motlanthe joined the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM). Cyril Ramaphosa was leading the union then. Motlanthe's family had connections to mining, and his mother was also involved in unions. He focused on political education within the NUM.

He joined the NUM just before a very large strike. Ramaphosa said he joined at "just the right time." Motlanthe remained a member of the ANC and the South African Communist Party (SACP). In 1992, he became the acting general secretary of the NUM, taking over from Ramaphosa. He was officially elected general secretary in 1994 and served until 1998.

Rising to National Leadership

ANC headquarters Luthuli House, where Motlanthe worked from 1997 to 2007.

Leading the ANC as Secretary General

In December 1997, Motlanthe was elected as the ANC's secretary general. This was a very important role in the party. Many senior ANC leaders, including Walter Sisulu and Nelson Mandela, supported him. When his election was announced, supporters carried him to the stage.

After this, Motlanthe left his role at the NUM and the SACP. He was the ANC secretary general for ten years, from 1997 to 2007. This was during all of Thabo Mbeki's time as ANC president. During his time, the number of ANC members grew a lot. He also helped put in place policies like Black Economic Empowerment (BEE).

For a long time, many thought Motlanthe was a strong supporter of Mbeki. They had meetings together where they discussed important policies.

Becoming ANC Deputy President

In December 2007, at a big ANC meeting in Polokwane, Motlanthe was elected deputy president of the ANC. He won by a large number of votes. His last job as secretary general was to give a report. In it, he spoke about problems in the party, like different groups fighting each other.

At this same meeting, Jacob Zuma was elected ANC president, taking over from Mbeki. Motlanthe was seen as someone who could help bring the different groups in the ANC together. Some people believed he helped Zuma's campaign. Others said he tried to stay neutral and keep the party united. He was praised for his calm and strong leadership during this time.

Joining the Government Cabinet

After the Polokwane meeting, Mbeki was still the national president. The ANC leaders asked Mbeki to make Motlanthe a minister in his government. Motlanthe had never worked in government before. This move was meant to help with the smooth transfer of power from Mbeki to Zuma and Motlanthe.

Motlanthe was sworn in as a Member of Parliament in May 2008. In July, he became a minister. He was appointed as the second Minister in the Presidency. This role involves coordinating between Parliament and the government. At this time, Motlanthe was seen as a close ally of Zuma.

Elected President of South Africa

Motlanthe served as a minister for only a short time. On 20 September 2008, President Mbeki announced he was resigning. The ANC had asked him to step down. On 25 September 2008, Parliament elected Motlanthe as the President of South Africa. He received 269 votes. He was sworn in on the same day.

President of South Africa (2008–2009)

Motlanthe with Indian President Pratibha Patil in New Delhi, 15 October 2008.

Starting His Presidency

Motlanthe's appointment was widely supported. People in Parliament sang songs in support of Zuma, but they also welcomed Motlanthe. Business leaders and even opposition parties were happy with his appointment.

In his first speech as president, Motlanthe promised to continue the policies of Mbeki's government. He kept most of Mbeki's ministers, including the respected finance minister Trevor Manuel. Baleka Mbete was appointed deputy president. The country's currency, the rand, became stronger after his announcement. Motlanthe was seen as handling the change smoothly, showing calm and confidence.

He was president for about seven and a half months. He gave his only State of the Nation speech in February 2009. In it, he did not announce many new plans, as a national election was coming soon.

Changes in Health Policy

One of the most important changes Motlanthe made was removing Manto Tshabalala-Msimang from the health ministry. Her approach to HIV/AIDS had been very controversial. Motlanthe replaced her with Barbara Hogan. Hogan quickly announced that the time of denying HIV/AIDS was over in South Africa. She focused on the HIV/AIDS crisis and providing free medicine.

Motlanthe had previously been unclear about his views on HIV/AIDS. But later, as deputy president, he strongly supported science-based policies for HIV/AIDS.

Working with Zimbabwe

Motlanthe was seen as sympathetic to Mbeki's "quiet diplomacy" approach to Zimbabwe. This meant trying to solve problems through talks rather than public criticism. As president, Motlanthe asked Mbeki to continue mediating between Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF and Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change.

His government supported the power-sharing agreement in Zimbabwe. Motlanthe met with Mugabe and Tsvangirai several times to help them form a government. His administration also gave financial and diplomatic help to the Zimbabwean unity government when it was formed in February 2009.

Changes in Law Enforcement

Motlanthe with American President George Bush at the White House ahead of an economic summit, 14 November 2008.

Disbanding the Scorpions

In January 2009, Motlanthe signed laws that closed down the Scorpions. This was an important anti-crime unit. The ANC had decided to close the unit at their 2007 meeting. Some people believed Motlanthe delayed signing the laws because he had concerns. His decision was seen by some as a result of political pressure.

Many people disagreed with closing the Scorpions. Opposition parties said the ANC did it to stop investigations into politicians. The unit that replaced the Scorpions, called the Hawks, later stopped an investigation into a large arms deal. In 2011, a court ruled that closing the Scorpions was against the law. But Motlanthe has continued to defend his decision.

Dismissal of Vusi Pikoli

On 8 December 2008, Motlanthe fired Vusi Pikoli, the head of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). Pikoli had been suspended earlier. A special investigation had recommended that Pikoli should get his job back. Motlanthe's decision to fire Pikoli was very controversial.

Critics suggested that Pikoli was fired to please the ANC or to help with dropping charges against Zuma. Motlanthe denied he was acting on the ANC's orders. However, some analysts said this showed Motlanthe was following the party's wishes.

Transition to Deputy President

From the start, Motlanthe was seen as a "caretaker president." This meant he was expected to lead until Zuma became president after the 2009 elections. Motlanthe confirmed his support for Zuma. In April 2009, the ANC won the national election. Zuma was then elected president, and he appointed Motlanthe as his deputy.

Deputy President (2009–2014)

As deputy president, Motlanthe had many important duties. He chaired councils on energy, AIDS, and human resources. He also led the committee for the 2010 Soccer World Cup in South Africa. In 2011, when there were false reports about Nelson Mandela's health, Motlanthe calmly reassured the public.

Recently appointed Deputy President Motlanthe at the World Economic Forum in Cape Town, 12 June 2009.

Freedom of the Press and Information

While president, Motlanthe had been praised for questioning a bill that could limit press freedom. As deputy president, he continued to be involved in talks about laws affecting press freedom and access to information.

In 2010, he helped reverse a plan to set up a state-controlled media appeals group. He said the media should first review its own rules. He was seen as having stronger beliefs in democracy than some other government leaders.

In 2011, a new bill, the Protection of State Information Bill, caused a lot of debate. It would give the state more power to control secret information. Many groups, including the media and unions, were against it. Motlanthe said there could be a "meeting point" between the government and those against the bill. He promised the bill would not be rushed through Parliament.

Julius Malema's Expulsion

Julius Malema, the leader of the ANC Youth League, was removed from the ANC in 2012. He had been a strong supporter of Zuma. But by then, some in the Youth League wanted Motlanthe to become president. Motlanthe appeared at events with Malema even after he was expelled.

Motlanthe had criticized Malema in the past. However, as deputy president, he tried to help solve problems with the Youth League leaders. It was reported that Motlanthe disagreed with how Zuma handled the conflict with Malema. This situation seemed to harm his relationship with Zuma.

Motlanthe with President Patil in Pretoria, 2 May 2012.

Running for President in 2012

Before the ANC's 2012 meeting, there were rumors that some wanted to challenge Zuma for the ANC presidency. Motlanthe and Zuma's relationship had become difficult. Motlanthe spoke against a policy proposal supported by Zuma. He was seen as a possible challenger to Zuma.

In October 2012, he said the ANC needed "renewal." He did not directly say he would run, but left the decision to the party branches. Motlanthe believed in following ANC rules, which discouraged open campaigning for leadership roles.

By early December, he was the top choice for those who opposed Zuma. He was nominated by several provinces and the Youth League. Motlanthe said he was "agonizing" over the decision. Days before the meeting, he agreed to challenge Zuma. He seemed like a reluctant candidate.

At the meeting in December, Motlanthe surprisingly declined to run for re-election as deputy president. This meant he would leave the top leadership if he didn't win the presidency. Cyril Ramaphosa was then chosen as Zuma's preferred candidate for deputy president.

On 18 December, Zuma won the election by a large margin. Motlanthe received less than 25% of the votes. After this, he also declined a nomination to serve on the ANC's National Executive Committee. This was a sign he was stepping back from politics. He finished his term as deputy president until 2014.

Retirement and Continued Influence

On 12 March 2014, before the 2014 general election, Motlanthe announced he was leaving government and Parliament. In his last speech to Parliament, he received a standing ovation. He spoke about the ANC being his "extended family" and the importance of a society where many voices are heard.

Speaking Out About the ANC

Since his retirement, Motlanthe has often criticized the state of the ANC. He became a strong opponent of President Zuma during Zuma's second term. This was when there were many accusations of problems within Zuma's government.

In 2016, Motlanthe spoke about a "gap in integrity" in the ANC. He criticized leaders who did not take responsibility and resign when they should. In 2017, he openly called for Zuma and other top ANC leaders to resign. At the funeral of his friend Ahmed Kathrada, Motlanthe quoted a letter where Kathrada asked Zuma to step down. Motlanthe said, "On a day like this we should not mince words." He continued to call for Zuma to resign.

He is thought to be allied with Cyril Ramaphosa, who is now the national and ANC president. However, in 2019, Motlanthe said the ANC's condition had worsened even after Ramaphosa became president.

Ongoing ANC Activities

Motlanthe remains active in the ANC. He campaigned for the ANC in Soweto before the 2016 local elections. He has been appointed chairperson of the ANC's O. R. Tambo School of Leadership, which opened in 2019.

In 2021, he was asked to help with talks between different groups in the ANC's Free State branch. He also led the ANC's internal election committee for the 2021 local elections. Under his leadership, this committee decided to exclude any candidates accused of wrongdoing.

Motlanthe in Washington, D.C., May 2017.

The Kgalema Motlanthe Foundation

The Kgalema Motlanthe Foundation was started in 2018. Its goal is to help with social and economic development, access to knowledge and education, and human rights in South Africa and Africa. President Ramaphosa spoke at the foundation's launch.

Other Important Roles

In 2017, Motlanthe led a government panel that looked at important laws. This panel made significant findings on land reform. In 2018, he led the African Union's team observing elections in Sierra Leone. Later that year, he led a commission in Zimbabwe that investigated unrest after elections.

He also joined the board of Ivanhoe Mines in 2018. He is a trustee of the Nelson Mandela Foundation. In 2021, he and two other trustees temporarily led the foundation after its top executives stepped down.

Personal Life

In 1975, Kgalema Motlanthe married Mapula Mokate. They separated before he became president and divorced in 2014. In May 2014, he married his long-time partner, Gugu Mtshali. He has three adult children: Kagiso, Ntabiseng (his step-daughter), and Kgomotso. He enjoys jazz music.

See also

• History of the African National Congress