Kwazikwenkosi Innocent Mshengu (born 10 November 1984) is a South African lawyer and African National Congress politician who served as the Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Education in KwaZulu-Natal until 11 August 2022 when he was replaced with Mbali Frazer by the new KwaZulu-Natal Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube. He served as a member of the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature from May 2019 until February 2023. Mshengu is the provincial chairperson of the African National Congress Youth League.
Kwazi Mshengu | |
|---|---|
| KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Education | |
| In office 27 May 2019 – 11 August 2022 | |
| Premier | Sihle Zikalala |
| Preceded by | Mthandeni Dlungwane |
| Succeeded by | Mbali Frazer |
| Member of the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature | |
| In office 22 May 2019 – 14 February 2023 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Kwazikwenkosi Innocent Mshengu 10 November 1984 Mooi River, Natal Province, South Africa |
| Political party | African National Congress |
| Spouse | Nneileng |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | University of KwaZulu-Natal |
Early life and education
editMshengu was born on 10 November 1984 in Mooi River in the former Natal Province.[1] He attended farm schools in the area for his primary education. In 2001, he matriculated at Dabulamanzi Combined School.[1] In 2002, Mshengu started university at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and graduated with a bachelor of laws (LLB) degree. He also obtained an honours degree in policy and development studies at the university.[1] In 2017, Mshengu received a master of laws (LLM) degree, also from the university.[2]
Career
editFrom 2006 to 2008, Mshengu served as the president of UKZN's SRC.[1] He was then the regional secretary of the ANC's Moses Mabhida region from 2007 to 2009.[1] Mshengu was elected as the provincial chairperson of the African National Congress Youth League in 2017.[1] The following year, he was elected to the ANC's provincial executive committee and the provincial working committee. He was also elected chair of the ANC's subcommittee on communications.[1]
Additionally, Mshengu was employed as the commissioner for the KwaZulu-Natal Youth Commission in 2008.[1] He was appointed as a deputy manager for skills development in the provincial Department of Health in 2009.[1] Soon after, Mshengu worked for the ANC caucus in the provincial legislature from 2011 to 2013.[1] Mshengu was the head of ministry at the provincial Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs from June 2016 until his election to the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature in May 2019.[1] The newly elected premier, Sihle Zikalala, named him Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Education.[3] Teachers unions welcomed his appointment.[4]
After the death of Bheki Ntuli, the MEC for Transport Community Safety and Liaison, in January 2021, Mshengu was appointed as the acting MEC for the portfolio. He served until 9 March, when Peggy Nkonyeni was appointed to the position as part of a cabinet reshuffle done by premier Zikalala.[5]
Prior to the ANC's provincial elective conference from 22 to 24 July 2022, Mshengu was on provincial chairperson Zikalala's "Ankole" slate, a group of candidates allied to party president Cyril Ramaphosa, as his preferred candidate for deputy provincial chairperson. On 23 July 2022, Mshengu was defeated by Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane-Zulu in the election for deputy provincial chairperson. Mshengu managed to receive only 661 votes, while Simelane-Zulu received 930 votes.[6][7][8]
On 11 August 2022, Mshengu resigned as Education MEC ahead of the newly elected premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube's cabinet announcement. He was replaced by the former chairperson of the public works portfolio committee Mbali Frazer.[9][10]
Mshenhu resigned from the provincial legislature on 14 February 2023.[11]
Personal life
editMshengu is married to Nneileng, and they have two daughters.[2]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Office of the MEC". www.kzneducation.gov.za. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
- ^ a b Nene, Nkululeko (21 April 2018). "WATCH: ANCYL KZN leader bags masters in law". Independent Online. Durban. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
- ^ Mavuso, Sihle (27 May 2019). "New KZN Cabinet: Who's in, who's out and who are the new faces?". IOL. Pietermaritzburg. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
- ^ Mtshali, Samkelo (28 May 2019). "Kwazi Mshengu's appointment as KZN Education MEC welcomed". IOL. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
- ^ "KZN cabinet reshuffle: Two MECs sworn in | eNCA".
- ^ Khoza, Amanda. "Ramaphosa snubs ANC's ninth elective conference in KZN". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
- ^ Nkosi, Ntombi. "Taliban's defeat Ankoles, causing ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa to doubt addressing the conference". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
- ^ Makhaye, Chris; Masuabi, Queenin (24 July 2022). "PROVINCIAL CONFERENCE: A blow to Ramaphosa as Zuma's 'Taliban' slate sweep KZN elections". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
- ^ "KZN premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube unveils her new cabinet". SowetanLIVE. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
- ^ Singh, Karen. "Former KZN MECs Jomo Sibiya, Kwazi Mshengu and Hlengiwe Mavimbela thank the ANC for opportunity to serve". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
- ^ Phungula, Willem (15 February 2023). "Former KZN Education MEC leaves the legislature". IOL. Retrieved 22 June 2023.