Zanele kaMagwaza-Msibi

Zanele kaMagwaza-Msibi is the Deputy Minister of Science and Technology of the Republic of South Africa with effect from 06 June 2014.She is the President of the National Freedom Party (NFP).

She holds a BA degree from the University of Zululand and a Diploma in Further Education from the then University of Natal (now University of KwaZulu-Natal) and a Diploma in Local Government from the then University of Durban-Westville (now University of KwaZulu-Natal).

Ms KaMagwaza-Msibi is a former school principal. She has occupied several senior administrative positions in municipal councils while also playing a leadership role in numerous community projects.

Driven by a passion to make a difference in other people’s lives, Ms KaMagwaza-Msibi set up the Zanele KaMagwaza-Msibi Foundation. Since its inception, the foundation has built seven fully furnished houses for deserving families ? five in Ulundi, and two in Nongoma and Pongola.

She served as Branch Chairperson of the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) in 1976. She then joined the executive committee of the IFP Youth and the Women’s Brigade.In 1995, she was the only woman on the executive board of the Nongoma Transitional Local Council. The following year, she was elected Chairperson of the Emakhosini Subregion, which comprised Ulundi and Babanango.

Other positions she held include: Member of the Executive Committee of the Zululand Regional Council, Deputy Chairperson of the Zululand Regional Council in 1997, Chairperson of the Zululand Council, Executive Member of the Association of Regional Councils, Executive Member of the KwaZulu-Natal Local Government Association, Chairperson of the Association of Regional Councils and Executive Member of the KwaZulu-Natal Gender Equality Executive.

This was followed by her appointment as Deputy Chairperson of the Youth Brigade (1998 to 2003) and later she became the National Secretary of the IFP Women’s Brigade.

Ms KaMagwaza-Msibi is the former Mayor of Zululand District Municipality.