Blade Nzimande
Encyclopedia
Dr Bonginkosi Emmanuel "Blade" Nzimande (born April 14, 1958) is a South Africa
n politician who has been Minister for Higher Education and Training since 2009.
He has been the General Secretary of the South African Communist Party
since 1998. He has a doctorate degree in philosophy specialising in sociology.
He came out strongly against the concept of Nationalisation at the COSATU conference in June 2011.
, on 14 April 1958. "Blade" Nzimande was one of the three children of Nozipho Alice and Phillip Sphambano, a Shangaan
herbalist from Mozambique
.
While at school participated in youth clubs which were gatherings for cultural and sporting events, and were not particularly political in nature. He first became politically aware when Harry Gwala was released from Robben Island
prison in 1973 and this was widely discussed in his community.
He completed his Psychology Honours degree at the University of Natal
, Pietermaritzburg, in 1980. His Masters degree is in Industrial Psychology (1981) and more recently he has been awarded a PhD for a thesis in the field of personnel management from the University of Natal.
in May 1976. During that time the Black Consciousness-oriented South African Students' Organization (SASO) was prominent on campus, but Nzimande's political views later shifter towards the Congress Alliance.
Following the shooting of demonstrating students in Soweto
on 16 June 1976, the administration building of the university was burnt down and the university subsequently closed down for a period. Nzimande returned to university in 1977 and completed his degree in 1979. After graduating, he returned to Edendale and joined the Azanian Students’ Organisation (Azaso) which eventually broke away from the Black Consciousness Movement (BCM), aligning itself with the Congress or Charterist tendency.
For Nzimande the shift from BCM to the Chartersist position was facilitated by weekly Zulu broadcasts from Radio Freedom and Radio Moscow. In this way he and his colleaques became acquainted with the policy of the African National Congress
(ANC) and they started to receive underground ANC documents. While active in Azaso Nzimande completed his Honours and Masters degrees.
(UDF) after its launch in 1983.
In 1982 Nzimande undertook his internship in Industrial Psychology in the personnel department of Tongaat Hulett Sugar Ltd. There he met Jay Naidoo and began working informally with unions, addressing union seminars on job grading and other issues. He resigned his job in 1984.
Nzimande was the offered a post as a lecturer at the Umlazi branch of the University of Zululand where he founded the Department of Industrial Psychology on that campus. At the same time, he became increasingly involved with the trade unions and served on the editorial board of the South African Labour Bulletin in 1986. He also continued to assist with trade unions seminars teaching the history of trade unionism.
study classes with the youth. Nzimande lectured until June 1987 and then joined the University of Natal, Durban to lecture in the Psychology Department. There he became involved in the Culture and Working Life Project, and initiated the cultural actitivities of the Dumbuzo Cultural Organisation which produced a play on violence, Koze Kube Nini (Until When?), performed in the townships. He also wrote various articles on violence, and assisted in the presentation of seminars.
and its economic policy, and he was vocal in his support for the removal of Mbeki as President of South Africa.
called for Nzimande to become second Deputy President, alongside Baleka Mbete
. President Motlanthe was also attacked by Nzimande because he fired Vusi Pikoli
in 2008, and refused to sign the SABC bill, which would give the ANC full control of State Television.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n politician who has been Minister for Higher Education and Training since 2009.
He has been the General Secretary of the South African Communist Party
South African Communist Party
South African Communist Party is a political party in South Africa. It was founded in 1921 as the Communist Party of South Africa by the joining together of the International Socialist League and others under the leadership of Willam H...
since 1998. He has a doctorate degree in philosophy specialising in sociology.
He came out strongly against the concept of Nationalisation at the COSATU conference in June 2011.
Birth and family
Nzimande was born in Edendale, PietermaritzburgPietermaritzburg
Pietermaritzburg is the capital and second largest city in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It was founded in 1838, and is currently governed by the Msunduzi Local Municipality. Its "purist" Zulu name is umGungundlovu, and this is the name used for the district municipality...
, on 14 April 1958. "Blade" Nzimande was one of the three children of Nozipho Alice and Phillip Sphambano, a Shangaan
Shangaan
The Tsonga people inhabit the southern coastal plain of Mozambique, parts of Zimbabwe and Swaziland, and the Limpopo Province of South Africa...
herbalist from Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
.
Education
Nzimande attended the Roman Catholic School, Henryville, and then Plessiers Lower Primary School before going to Mthethomusha School in Edendale, the first school in the area established under the new Bantu education system. He matriculated in 1975 at Georgetown High, Edendale.While at school participated in youth clubs which were gatherings for cultural and sporting events, and were not particularly political in nature. He first became politically aware when Harry Gwala was released from Robben Island
Robben Island
Robben Island is an island in Table Bay, 6.9 km west of the coast of Bloubergstrand, Cape Town, South Africa. The name is Dutch for "seal island". Robben Island is roughly oval in shape, 3.3 km long north-south, and 1.9 km wide, with an area of 5.07 km². It is flat and only a...
prison in 1973 and this was widely discussed in his community.
He completed his Psychology Honours degree at the University of Natal
University of Natal
The University of Natal was a university in Natal, and later KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, that is now part of the University of KwaZulu-Natal. It was founded in 1910 as the Natal University College in Pietermaritzburg, and expanded to include a campus in Durban in 1931. In 1947, the university...
, Pietermaritzburg, in 1980. His Masters degree is in Industrial Psychology (1981) and more recently he has been awarded a PhD for a thesis in the field of personnel management from the University of Natal.
Political Demonstrations
In 1976 Nzimande enrolled at the University of Zululand to study towards a BA degree, majoring in Public Administration and Psychology. He became involved in student activity, including a food boycott and demonstrations against the award of an honorary doctorate to Prince Mangosuthu ButheleziMangosuthu Buthelezi
Inkosi Mangosuthu Buthelezi is a South African Zulu politician who founded the Inkatha Freedom Party in 1975 and continues to lead the party today.His praise name is Shenge.-Early life:...
in May 1976. During that time the Black Consciousness-oriented South African Students' Organization (SASO) was prominent on campus, but Nzimande's political views later shifter towards the Congress Alliance.
Following the shooting of demonstrating students in Soweto
Soweto
Soweto is a lower-class-populated urban area of the city of Johannesburg in Gauteng, South Africa, bordering the city's mining belt in the south. Its name is an English syllabic abbreviation for South Western Townships...
on 16 June 1976, the administration building of the university was burnt down and the university subsequently closed down for a period. Nzimande returned to university in 1977 and completed his degree in 1979. After graduating, he returned to Edendale and joined the Azanian Students’ Organisation (Azaso) which eventually broke away from the Black Consciousness Movement (BCM), aligning itself with the Congress or Charterist tendency.
For Nzimande the shift from BCM to the Chartersist position was facilitated by weekly Zulu broadcasts from Radio Freedom and Radio Moscow. In this way he and his colleaques became acquainted with the policy of the African National Congress
African National Congress
The African National Congress is South Africa's governing Africanist political party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in April 1994. It defines itself as a...
(ANC) and they started to receive underground ANC documents. While active in Azaso Nzimande completed his Honours and Masters degrees.
Work
In January 1982 Nzimande moved to Durban, and at that stage was active in the Dambuza Youth Organisation which affiliated to the United Democratic FrontUnited Democratic Front (South Africa)
The United Democratic Front was one of the most important anti-apartheid organisations of the 1980s. The non-racial coalition of about 400 civic, church, students', workers' and other organisations was formed in 1983, initially to fight the just-introduced idea of the Tricameral Parliament The...
(UDF) after its launch in 1983.
In 1982 Nzimande undertook his internship in Industrial Psychology in the personnel department of Tongaat Hulett Sugar Ltd. There he met Jay Naidoo and began working informally with unions, addressing union seminars on job grading and other issues. He resigned his job in 1984.
Nzimande was the offered a post as a lecturer at the Umlazi branch of the University of Zululand where he founded the Department of Industrial Psychology on that campus. At the same time, he became increasingly involved with the trade unions and served on the editorial board of the South African Labour Bulletin in 1986. He also continued to assist with trade unions seminars teaching the history of trade unionism.
Lecturer
In Umlazi he began to work on educational issues in mid-1986 and also held clandestine MarxistMarxism
Marxism is an economic and sociopolitical worldview and method of socioeconomic inquiry that centers upon a materialist interpretation of history, a dialectical view of social change, and an analysis and critique of the development of capitalism. Marxism was pioneered in the early to mid 19th...
study classes with the youth. Nzimande lectured until June 1987 and then joined the University of Natal, Durban to lecture in the Psychology Department. There he became involved in the Culture and Working Life Project, and initiated the cultural actitivities of the Dumbuzo Cultural Organisation which produced a play on violence, Koze Kube Nini (Until When?), performed in the townships. He also wrote various articles on violence, and assisted in the presentation of seminars.
Mbeki
Dr. Nzimande criticized the government of Thabo MbekiThabo Mbeki
Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki is a South African politician who served two terms as the second post-apartheid President of South Africa from 14 June 1999 to 24 September 2008. He is also the brother of Moeletsi Mbeki...
and its economic policy, and he was vocal in his support for the removal of Mbeki as President of South Africa.
SACP Donation
In 2007 Malawian businessman Charles Modise claimed he made a R500,000 donation to the South African Communist Party in 2002. He claimed he gave the money, packed in black plastic bags, to Willy Madisha, who in turn swore he transported the money in the boot of his car to SACP general secretary Blade Nzimande. However, Nzimande denied ever receiving the money.Kgalema Motlanthe
Nzimande began to attack President Kgalema Motlanthe in early January 2009. Saying he was part of the "old Mbeki crowd", senior ANC members loyal to Jacob ZumaJacob Zuma
Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma is the President of South Africa, elected by parliament following his party's victory in the 2009 general election....
called for Nzimande to become second Deputy President, alongside Baleka Mbete
Baleka Mbete
Baleka Mbete is the former Deputy President of South Africa. She was previously Speaker of the National Assembly of South Africa from 2004 to 2008....
. President Motlanthe was also attacked by Nzimande because he fired Vusi Pikoli
Vusi Pikoli
Vusumzi "Vusi" Pikoli is a South African advocate, and the recently fired head of South Africa's National Prosecuting Authority. He is noted for instigating criminal charges against disgraced South African police commissioner Jackie Selebi and ANC president Jacob Zuma...
in 2008, and refused to sign the SABC bill, which would give the ANC full control of State Television.