Blade Nzimande

Blade Nzimande
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Name	Blade Nzimande
Birth date	April 14, 1958
Birth place	Edendale, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Nationality	South African
Party	South African Communist Party
Education	University of Natal, University of the Western Cape

Blade Nzimande is a prominent South African politician and academic, serving as the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology from 2009 to 2017 and as the Minister of Transport from 2017 to 2019. He is a key figure in the South African Communist Party and has been a member of the African National Congress's National Executive Committee. Nzimande has also been involved with various organizations, including the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African National Civics Organisation. His academic background includes studying at the University of Natal and the University of the Western Cape, where he was influenced by the ideas of Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin.

● Early Life and Education

Blade Nzimande was born in Edendale, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, and grew up in a family of African National Congress supporters. He attended Pieterson High School in Soweto and later studied at the University of Natal, where he became involved in the South African Students' Organisation and the Azanian Students' Organisation. Nzimande's education was also influenced by his time at the University of the Western Cape, where he was exposed to the ideas of Frantz Fanon and Amilcar Cabral. He has also been associated with the University of the Witwatersrand and the University of Johannesburg, and has written for publications such as the South African Labour Bulletin and the African Communist.

● Career

Nzimande's career has spanned academia, politics, and activism, with involvement in organizations such as the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African National Civics Organisation. He has also been a member of the African National Congress's National Executive Committee and has served on the Central Committee of the South African Communist Party. Nzimande has worked with notable figures such as Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo, and Walter Sisulu, and has been influenced by the ideas of Joe Slovo and Chris Hani. He has also been involved in initiatives such as the Kerala Model of development and the Cuban Revolution.

● Political Career

Nzimande's political career has been marked by his involvement in the South African Communist Party and the African National Congress. He has served as the General Secretary of the South African Communist Party and has been a member of the National Executive Committee of the African National Congress. Nzimande has also been involved in the Tripartite Alliance, which includes the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African National Civics Organisation. He has worked with notable politicians such as Jacob Zuma, Thabo Mbeki, and Cyril Ramaphosa, and has been influenced by the ideas of Mangosuthu Buthelezi and Bantu Holomisa.

● Ministerial Appointments

Nzimande has held several ministerial appointments, including Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology from 2009 to 2017 and Minister of Transport from 2017 to 2019. During his tenure as Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology, he oversaw the establishment of the University of Mpumalanga and the Sol Plaatje University. Nzimande has also been involved in initiatives such as the National Development Plan and the New Growth Path, and has worked with organizations such as the National Research Foundation and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. He has also been associated with the South African National Space Agency and the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences.

● Controversies and Criticism

Nzimande has been involved in several controversies, including criticism of his handling of the #FeesMustFall movement and his role in the Marikana massacre. He has also been accused of being out of touch with the needs of South African students and of prioritizing the interests of the African National Congress over those of the South African Communist Party. Nzimande has faced criticism from organizations such as the Economic Freedom Fighters and the Democratic Alliance, and has been involved in public feuds with figures such as Julius Malema and Helen Zille. He has also been associated with the Gupta family and the State Capture Commission.

● Personal Life

Nzimande is married to Phila Portia Nkosi and has two children. He is a member of the South African Communist Party and has been involved in various charitable initiatives, including the Nelson Mandela Foundation and the Oliver and Adelaide Tambo Foundation. Nzimande has also been associated with the University of Fort Hare and the University of Limpopo, and has written for publications such as the Sowetan and the Mail & Guardian. He has also been influenced by the ideas of Steve Biko and Robert Sobukwe, and has worked with notable figures such as Desmond Tutu and Mamphela Ramphele.