Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Honourable Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma MP
Minister of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities
In office 6 March 2023 – 19 June 2024
President	Cyril Ramaphosa
Deputy	Sisisi Tolashe
Preceded by	Maite Nkoana-Mashabane
Succeeded by	Sindisiwe Chikunga
Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
In office 30 May 2019 – 6 March 2023
President	Cyril Ramaphosa
Deputy	Parks Tau (until 2020) Obed Bapela (2019–2023) Thembi Nkadimeng (2021–2023)
Preceded by	Zweli Mkhize
Succeeded by	Thembi Nkadimeng
Minister in the Presidency
In office 28 February 2018 – 29 May 2019
President	Cyril Ramaphosa
Preceded by	Jeff Radebe
Succeeded by	Jackson Mthembu
3rd Chairperson of the African Union Commission
In office 15 October 2012 – 30 January 2017
Deputy	Erastus Mwencha
Preceded by	Jean Ping
Succeeded by	Moussa Faki
Minister of Home Affairs
In office 10 May 2009 – 3 October 2012
President	Jacob Zuma
Preceded by	Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula
Succeeded by	Naledi Pandor
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office 14 June 1999 – 10 May 2009
President	Thabo Mbeki Kgalema Motlanthe
Preceded by	Alfred Nzo
Succeeded by	Maite Nkoana-Mashabane (International Relations and Cooperation)
21st Minister of Health
In office 10 May 1994 – 14 June 1999
President	Nelson Mandela
Preceded by	Rina Venter
Succeeded by	Manto Tshabalala-Msimang
Additional offices 1994–present Chancellor of the University of Limpopo Incumbent Assumed office 28 May 2019 Vice-Chancellor Mahlo Mokgalong Preceded by Reuel Khoza
Personal details
Born	Nkosazana Clarice Dlamini (1949-01-27) 27 January 1949 (age 76) Natal, Union of South Africa
Political party	African National Congress
Spouse	Jacob Zuma ​ ​ (m. 1982; div. 1998)​
Relations	Hlobisile Dlamini (sister)
Children	4, including Gugulethu and Thuthukile
Alma mater	University of Zululand University of Natal University of Bristol University of Liverpool
Occupation	Politician medical doctor diplomat anti-apartheid activist

Nkosazana Clarice Dlamini-Zuma (born 27 January 1949), often called NDZ, is a well-known South African politician and medical doctor. She was also an important activist against apartheid, a system of racial segregation. She has been a member of the African National Congress (ANC) for a long time. Currently, she is the Chancellor of the University of Limpopo.

Dlamini-Zuma grew up and studied in the Natal province. As a student, she joined the Black Consciousness Movement, which fought for the rights of Black people. From 1976 to 1990, she lived outside South Africa, mainly in the United Kingdom and Swaziland. During this time, she worked as a doctor and continued her activism with the ANC.

Since 1994, Dlamini-Zuma has served in the government under every South African president after apartheid ended. She was the Minister of Health under President Nelson Mandela. She then served as Minister of Foreign Affairs for ten years. Later, she became Minister of Home Affairs, where she helped improve the department. More recently, she was briefly the Minister of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities.

She also served as Minister in the Presidency and later as Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs. In this role, she played a big part in managing South Africa's lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic. From 2012 to 2017, she was the Chairperson of the African Union Commission. She was the first woman to lead this important African organization.

Early Life and Education

Nkosazana Clarice Dlamini was born on 27 January 1949. She comes from a Zulu family in Natal, South Africa. Her father, Willibrod Gweva, was a teacher, and her mother, Rose, was a homemaker. Her uncle, Stephen Dlamini, was also an activist for the ANC.

As the oldest of eight children, Dlamini-Zuma attended Adams College in Amanzimtoti. This was a famous school where many ANC leaders studied. She finished high school in 1967. She wanted to be a lawyer, but her father wanted her to be a doctor. She earned a science degree in zoology and botany from the University of Zululand in 1971. Then, she went to the University of Natal to study medicine.

While at university, she became very active in the South African Students' Organisation. This group was part of the Black Consciousness Movement. She was elected as its deputy president in 1976.

Life in Exile and Return

Because of her political activities, the police started watching her. So, in 1976, she left South Africa and went into exile. She finished her medical studies in the United Kingdom. She graduated as a doctor from the University of Bristol in 1978.

While in the UK, she led the ANC Youth Section in Britain from 1977 to 1978. She also worked as a doctor in England for two years. Later, she moved to Swaziland for five years. There, she worked as a children's doctor at the Mbabane Government Hospital. In Swaziland, she met Jacob Zuma, who was also an ANC activist. They later married.

In 1985, Dlamini-Zuma returned to the UK. She completed a special diploma in tropical child health at Liverpool University. She continued her work with children's health. She also helped start a group called the Health Refugee Trust. In 1989, she worked for the ANC Health Department in Lusaka, Zambia.

She came back to South Africa in 1990 when the ANC was allowed to operate again. This was the start of South Africa's move towards a non-racial democracy. She was part of important talks to end apartheid.

Government Career in South Africa

1994–1999: Minister of Health

In 1994, South Africa held its first democratic election. Nelson Mandela became president, and he appointed Dlamini-Zuma as the Minister of Health. She worked to make healthcare available to everyone, regardless of race. She also introduced laws to control smoking in public places.

During her time as Health Minister, the HIV/AIDS epidemic began in South Africa. Her department supported a project called Sarafina II. This musical was meant to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS. However, there were problems with how the project was funded and managed.

1999–2009: Minister of Foreign Affairs

Dlamini-Zuma became the Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1999. She held this role for ten years under Presidents Thabo Mbeki and Kgalema Motlanthe. She worked to solve conflicts in Africa, like the war in Congo. She also pushed for African countries to have more power in the United Nations.

She was the president of important global meetings, such as the 2001 World Conference Against Racism. She also led the Ministers' Council at the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development.

IBSA foreign ministers: Dlamini-Zuma with Natwar Singh and Celso Amorim in Cape Town, March 2005.

2009–2012: Minister of Home Affairs

In May 2009, Dlamini-Zuma became the Minister of Home Affairs. This was under President Jacob Zuma, her former husband. She was praised for greatly improving the department. Before her, it was known for problems, but she helped make it much more efficient.

During her time, the department received its first clean audit in 16 years. This showed how much she helped improve its services. However, she faced criticism when the Dalai Lama could not get a visa to visit South Africa. This caused public concern.

Leading the African Union Commission

Dlamini-Zuma with U.S. President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama during the U.S.–Africa Leaders Summit, August 2014.

In January 2012, Dlamini-Zuma ran for the position of Chairperson of the African Union (AU). This is a very important role for the whole African continent. She won the election in July 2012, becoming the first woman to lead the AU.

She served as Chairperson until January 2017. During her time, she worked to make the AU more professional. She also pushed for more women to be in leadership roles within the organization. She was known for bringing new ideas like gender equality and human rights into discussions.

Return to South African Government

Dlamini-Zuma with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the third India–Africa Forum Summit in New Delhi, October 2015.

In early 2017, Dlamini-Zuma returned to South Africa. She became a Member of the National Assembly again.

2018–2019: Minister in the Presidency

In February 2018, President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed Dlamini-Zuma as Minister in the Presidency. In this role, she was in charge of planning and monitoring government projects. She also led the National Planning Commission.

2019–2023: Minister of Cooperative Governance

After the 2019 elections, Dlamini-Zuma became the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA). People hoped she would improve this department, just like she did with Home Affairs. This department works with local governments and traditional leaders.

COVID-19 Pandemic Role

During the COVID-19 pandemic from 2020 to 2022, South Africa was under a national state of disaster. As COGTA Minister, Dlamini-Zuma was responsible for making many of the rules for the lockdown. This gave her a lot of power over the country's response.

She announced rules like the ban on tobacco and alcohol sales. These rules were very strict and caused a lot of public discussion. A South African DJ, Max Hurrell, even made a popular song that sampled her words about the tobacco ban. Dlamini-Zuma congratulated him for entertaining the nation during a difficult time.

2023–2024: Minister of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities

In March 2023, President Ramaphosa changed his cabinet. He appointed Dlamini-Zuma as the Minister responsible for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities.

African National Congress Leadership Roles

Dlamini-Zuma with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during a meeting in Washington, D.C., March 2009.

Dlamini-Zuma has been a member of the ANC's National Executive Committee (NEC) since the early 1990s. This is a very important leadership group within the party.

2007: Deputy Presidential Campaign

In 2007, Dlamini-Zuma ran for the position of deputy president of the ANC. She was supported by some parts of the party. However, she lost the vote to Kgalema Motlanthe. She was still re-elected to the NEC.

2017: Presidential Campaign

In 2017, Dlamini-Zuma ran for the ANC presidency. This is the top leadership position in the party. She was supported by the ANC Women's League and the ANC Youth League.

Her campaign focused on making big changes to the economy, like giving land to more people. At the conference, she narrowly lost the election to Cyril Ramaphosa. She received 2,261 votes, while Ramaphosa received 2,440. She was re-elected to the NEC again.

2022: Second Presidential Campaign

In 2022, Dlamini-Zuma was considered to be running for the ANC presidency again. She was nominated by her local ANC branch in eThekwini.

Personal Life

Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma was married to former President Jacob Zuma from 1982 to 1998. They have four daughters together: Msholozi (born 1982), Gugulethu Zuma-Ncube (born 1984), Nokuthula Nomaqhawe (born 1987), and Thuthukile (born 1989). They divorced in 1998.

Her younger sister, Hlobisile Dlamini, is also a member of the ANC and serves in the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature.

Honours and Recognition

Dlamini-Zuma has received several honours for her work.

• In 2013, she received the Order of Luthuli in gold. This is a high honour in South Africa.
• The same year, New African magazine named her one of the top 100 most influential Africans.
• In 2015, she was featured as one of the BBC's 100 Women.
• In 2019, she became the Chancellor of the University of Limpopo. This is a special, honorary position.
• In 2016, a new municipality in KwaZulu-Natal was named the Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma Local Municipality in her honour.

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