Zweli Mkhize
| Zweli Lawrence Mkhize | |
|---|---|
| Khabazela | |
 |
|
| Premier of KwaZulu-Natal | |
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In office 6 May 2009 – 1 September 2013 |
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| Preceded by | S'bu Ndebele |
| Succeeded by | Senzo Mchunu |
| Treasurer-General of the African National Congress | |
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Assumed office 18 December 2012 |
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| Preceded by | Mathews Phosa |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
2 February 1956 Willowfontein, KwaZulu-Natal |
| Nationality | South African |
| Political party | African National Congress |
| Spouse(s) | May Mashego |
| Children | Naledi, Nokulinda, Dedani |
| Alma mater | University of Natal |
Zweli Lawrence Mkhize (born 2 February 1956, Willowfontein, Pietermaritzburg) is a South African doctor, legislator and politician and the current Treasurer-General of the African National Congress.
Zweli Mkhize was born the fifth child in a family of seven. His great grandfather, through his father's side of the family, was one of the great heroes of the Mkhizes clan of Nkandla in the early to mid 19th century. Mkhize described this knowledge of coming from a great legacy as a humbling experience: "Mindful of this legacy, my father always insisted on us respecting others and living our lives with humility and integrity .... He used to tell us that these values were more important than any riches." At the age of 31, Zweli Mkhize had completed his degree in medicine at the University of Natal. By 1983 his internship at the McCord Hospital was completed; this was important since McCord was often reprimanded for disobeying the Group Areas Act. Mkhize ended up gaining employment at Edendale Hospital in his hometown of Pietermaritzburg in the following year. Despite his accomplishments at Edendale, life was not safe for a successful young black doctor: due to the Apartheid movement, he was forced into exile in Swaziland, eventually settling in Zimbabwe.
Upon his return to South Africa in 1991, Mkhize began to network and build contacts within the African National Congress as a member of its national health secretariat. He is close friends with Jacob Zuma, as they hail from the same province. As Mkhize steadily moved through the ranks, he began to focus on positions within his native province, KwaZulu-Natal, becoming Commissioner for Health of the province by 1994. By 2004, he was commissioner for Finance and Economic Development. In a speech at the 39th National Convention of Black Mayors in Atlanta, he declared, "What has crippled the country historically, apart from decades of colonialism and apartheid - has been maladministration and rampant corruption. The new breed of leaders emerging in Africa understands that good governance is the key enabling factor for Africa's socio-economic development." He was designated on 30 April 2009 as the ANC candidate for Premier of KwaZulu-Natal and was elected to that position by the provincial legislature on 6 May. He is also the newest chancellor of the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
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