Senzeni Zokwana is a South African politician. He is a former Member of Parliament and served until May 2019 as the
Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries may refer to:
* Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Cambodia)
* Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Japan)
* Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Niue)
* Depart ...
, having been appointed by President
Jacob Zuma
Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma (; born 12 April 1942) is a South African politician who served as the fourth president of South Africa from 2009 to 2018. He is also referred to by his initials JZ and clan names Nxamalala and Msholozi. Zuma was a for ...
in May 2014. He previously served as the President of the
National Union of Mineworkers (NUM).
Labour career
He became involved in trade union activism in 1980 during the apartheid-era in South Africa at the President Steyn gold mine in the
Free State. He joined the ranks of NUM in 1983, became a shaft steward in 1984 and was elected to the branch executive committee in the President Steyn Mine in 1985. He subsequently moved up the ranks to become branch chairperson in 1987, vice regional chairperson in 1992 and regional chairperson from 1993 to 1994. He was first a shift overseer on safety matters and in 1995, he joined the NUM staff as a safety officer, after proving himself a dedicated advocate of modern mine safety techniques. Mr Zokwana was elected as vice president in 1994, a position he held until 2000 when he was elected president. He was subsequently re-elected for the role and held the position until 2014.
In 2005 Zokwana was elected as President of the
in 2005 and was subsequently re-elected in November 2011. Additionally, he was elected as Vice-President of the global union federation
IndustriALL Global Union
IndustriALL Global Union is a global union federation, founded in Copenhagen on 19 June 2012.
IndustriALL Global Union represents more than 50 million working people in more than 140 countries, working across the supply chains in mining, energy a ...
on June 19, 2012.
Marikana Massacre
On the 16th of August 2012, 34 miners were gunned down by the South African Police Service after they had embarked on a months lengthy strike demanding wage increase. At the centre of this tragedy were the National Police Commissioner
Riah Phiyega, Minister of Police Hon.
Nathi Mthethwa
Emmanuel Nkosinathi Mthethwa (born 23 January 1967) is a South African politician who is currently serving as South African Ambassador to France. He represented the African National Congress (ANC) in the National Assembly of South Africa betwee ...
, the Deputy president and Lonmin director
Cyril Ramaphosa
Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa (born 17 November 1952) is a South African businessman and politician serving as the 5th and current President of South Africa since 2018. A former Anti-Apartheid Movement, anti-apartheid activist and trade union leade ...
,
NUM President Mr Senzeni Zokwana, the President of
AMCU Mr. Joseph Mathunjwa, Lonmin Manager Mr. Mokoena and General Mpembe.
Marikana: What really happened? We may never know
by Mandy de Waal, ''Daily Maverick'', 2012
References
Government ministers of South Africa
African National Congress politicians
South African Communist Party politicians
South African trade unionists
Agriculture and land affairs ministers of South Africa
Members of the National Assembly of South Africa 2014–2019
{{Limpopo-politician-stub