Weziwe Thusi

Weziwe Gcotyelwa Thusi (born 1951 or 1952) is a South African politician who represented the African National Congress (ANC) in the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Legislature and KwaZulu-Natal Executive Council until 2019. Most prominently, she was KwaZulu-Natal's Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Social Development from 2011 to 2019. She later served as Speaker of the eThekweni Metropolitan Council from 2019 until 2021, when she resigned from politics.

Weziwe Thusi
Member of the KwaZulu-Natal Executive Council for Social Development
In office
November 2011 – May 2019
Premier
Preceded byMeshack Radebe
Succeeded byNonhlanhla Khoza
Member of the KwaZulu-Natal Executive Council for Arts, Culture, Sports and Recreation
In office
May 2009 – November 2011
PremierZweli Mkhize
Preceded byHerself (for Arts, Culture and Tourism)
Succeeded byNtombikayise Sibhidla-Saphetha
Personal details
Born1951 or 1952 (age 71–72)
CitizenshipSouth Africa
Political partyAfrican National Congress
SpouseBrian Thusi (died 2018)

Political career

Thusi was born in 1951 or 1952.[1] She represented the ANC in the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature and Executive Council prior to 2009, including as MEC for Arts, Culture and Tourism under Premier Sbu Ndebele.[2][3] In the 2009 general election, she was re-elected to the provincial legislature and was appointed MEC for Arts, Culture, Sports and Recreation by newly elected Premier Zweli Mkhize.[4] In November 2011, in a reshuffle by Mkhize, she was appointed MEC for Social Development.[5] She retained the social development portfolio for the next eight years, through the rest of Mkhize's premiership and throughout the tenure of his successors, Senzo Mchunu and Willies Mchunu; she was re-elected to her legislative seat in the 2014 general election, ranked 12th on the ANC's provincial party list.[6][1]

In the 2019 general election, Thusi was re-elected to the provincial legislature, ranked 26th on the ANC's party list,[6] but newly elected Premier Sihle Zikalala appointed Nonhlanhla Khoza to succeed her in the Executive Council.[7] Less than three months into the legislative term, the ANC announced that Thusi would leave the provincial legislature to join the eThekweni Metropolitan Municipality as a local councillor and the ANC's candidate for Speaker of the eThekweni council.[8] She later said that she had intended to resign from politics in 2019 but had felt obliged to represent the ANC in eThekweni when asked by the party.[1] She was elected as eThekweni Speaker in early September 2019, succeeding William Mapena.[9] She left the council after the 2021 local elections, in which the ANC did not nominate her for re-election as a councillor.[1]

Personal life

Thusi was married to jazz musician Nhlanhla Brian Thusi, who died in July 2018.[10]

References
  1. Phungula, Willem (6 September 2021). "Where to for eThekwini Municipality speaker Weziwe Thusi?". IOL. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  2. "KwaZulu-Natal counts its tourism blessings". The Mail & Guardian. 19 February 2008. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  3. "MEC escapes death when vehicles crash". Sowetan. 17 September 2007. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  4. "Statement by Dr Zweli Mkhize at his inauguration as the Premier of the Province of KwaZulu-Natal". South African Government. 11 May 2009. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  5. "Changes to the KZN cabinet – Zweli Mkhize". Politicsweb. 15 November 2011. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  6. "Weziwe Gcotyelwa Thusi". People's Assembly. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  7. "Premier Sihle Zikalala announces his KZN cabinet". News24. 27 May 2019. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  8. "New mayor for Durban, at last". The Mail & Guardian. 22 August 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  9. "New eThekwini mayor elected". eNCA. 6 September 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  10. "Family confirm death of acclaimed trumpeter Brian Thusi". Sowetan. 1 August 2018. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
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