Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma transitioned from a medical career in exile to a central role in post-apartheid governance, serving in the cabinets of every South African president since 1994. Her tenure spans decades of legislative and executive influence, ranging from public health initiatives and foreign diplomacy to the regulation of South Africa’s response to the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Education and Early Activism
Born in 1949 in the Natal Province, Dlamini-Zuma attended Adams College before enrolling at the University of Zululand, where she earned a BSc in zoology and botany in 1971. She later studied medicine at the University of Natal and eventually the University of Bristol, graduating with an MBChB in 1978. During her student years, she joined the South African Students’ Organisation, a Black Consciousness grouping. Following her political activity, she went into exile in 1976, spending time in the United Kingdom and Swaziland while working as a paediatrician.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Ministerial Roles and Public Health
Dlamini-Zuma’s cabinet career began in 1994 as Minister of Health under Nelson Mandela. She focused on desegregating the health system and implemented strict anti-tobacco legislation in 1999. Her tenure also included the controversial Sarafina II project, an HIV/AIDS awareness initiative that faced intense scrutiny regarding financial oversight and bidding procedures. Beyond health, she served as Minister of Home Affairs from 2009 to 2012, where she was tasked with reforming a dysfunctional department.
International Diplomacy and African Union Leadership
From 1999 to 2009, she acted as the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, serving under Presidents Thabo Mbeki and Kgalema Motlanthe. Her diplomacy work included mediation efforts during the Second Congo War. In 2012, she transitioned to the continental stage as the first woman to lead the African Union Commission, a position she held until 2017.
Legislative Tenure and Recent Assignments
Upon returning to domestic politics, Dlamini-Zuma became a member of the National Assembly. She served as Minister in the Presidency from 2018 to 2019 and later as Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs between 2019 and 2023. During this period, she held a prominent role in managing national lockdown regulations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fast facts
- Born: 1949, Natal Province
- Citizenship: South Africa
- Education: University of Zululand, University of Bristol
- Minister of Health: 1994-1999
- Minister of International Relations and Cooperation: 1999-2009
- Chairperson of the African Union Commission: 2012-2017
- Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs: 2019-2023
- Award: BBC 100 Women (2015)
Questions readers ask
Which cabinet positions has she held?
She has served as Minister of Health, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Minister of Home Affairs, Minister in the Presidency, and Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.
Did she lead any international organizations?
Yes, she served as the Chairperson of the African Union Commission from 2012 to 2017, becoming the first woman to hold that office.
Achievements
- Chairperson of the African Union Commission (2012–2017)
- member of the National Assembly of South Africa (2017–2019)
- member of the National Assembly of South Africa (from 2019)
- Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (2019–2023)
- Educated at University of Zululand and University of Bristol
