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Kwazikwenkosi Innocent Mshengu (born 10 November 1984) is a South African lawyer and African National Congress politician who served as the Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Education in KwaZulu-Natal until 11 August 2022 when he was replaced with Mbali Frazer by the new KwaZulu-Natal Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube. He served as a member of the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature from May 2019 until February 2023. Mshengu is the provincial chairperson of the African National Congress Youth League.

Early life and education

Mshengu was born on 10 November 1984 in Mooi River in the former Natal Province. He attended farm schools in the area for his primary education. In 2001, he matriculated at Dabulamanzi Combined School. In 2002, Mshengu started university at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and graduated with a bachelor of laws (LLB) degree. He also obtained an honours degree in policy and development studies at the university. In 2017, Mshengu received a master of laws (LLM) degree, also from the university.

Career

From 2006 to 2008, Mshengu served as the president of UKZN's SRC. He was then the regional secretary of the ANC's Moses Mabhida region from 2007 to 2009. Mshengu was elected as the provincial chairperson of the African National Congress Youth League in 2017. The following year, he was elected to the ANC's provincial executive committee and the provincial working committee. He was also elected chair of the ANC's subcommittee on communications.

Additionally, Mshengu was employed as the commissioner for the KwaZulu-Natal Youth Commission in 2008. He was appointed as a deputy manager for skills development in the provincial Department of Health in 2009. Soon after, Mshengu worked for the ANC caucus in the provincial legislature from 2011 to 2013. Mshengu was the head of ministry at the provincial Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs from June 2016 until his election to the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature in May 2019. The newly elected premier, Sihle Zikalala, named him Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Education. Teachers unions welcomed his appointment.

After the death of Bheki Ntuli, the MEC for Transport Community Safety and Liaison, in January 2021, Mshengu was appointed as the acting MEC for the portfolio. He served until 9 March, when Peggy Nkonyeni was appointed to the position as part of a cabinet reshuffle done by premier Zikalala.

Prior to the ANC's provincial elective conference from 22 to 24 July 2022, Mshengu was on provincial chairperson Zikalala's "Ankole" slate, a group of candidates allied to party president Cyril Ramaphosa, as his preferred candidate for deputy provincial chairperson. On 23 July 2022, Mshengu was defeated by Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane-Zulu in the election for deputy provincial chairperson. Mshengu managed to receive only 661 votes, while Simelane-Zulu received 930 votes.

On 11 August 2022, Mshengu resigned as Education MEC ahead of the newly elected premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube's cabinet announcement. He was replaced by the former chairperson of the public works portfolio committee Mbali Frazer.

Mshenhu resigned from the provincial legislature on 14 February 2023.

Personal life

Mshengu is married to Nneileng, and they have two daughters.

References

1. ^ "Office of the MEC". www.kzneducation.gov.za. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
2. ^ Nene, Nkululeko (21 April 2018). "WATCH: ANCYL KZN leader bags masters in law". Independent Online. Durban. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
3. Mavuso, Sihle (27 May 2019). "New KZN Cabinet: Who's in, who's out and who are the new faces?". IOL. Pietermaritzburg. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
4. Mtshali, Samkelo (28 May 2019). "Kwazi Mshengu's appointment as KZN Education MEC welcomed". IOL. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
5. "KZN cabinet reshuffle: Two MECs sworn in | eNCA".
6. Khoza, Amanda. "Ramaphosa snubs ANC's ninth elective conference in KZN". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
7. Nkosi, Ntombi. "Taliban's defeat Ankoles, causing ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa to doubt addressing the conference". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
8. Makhaye, Chris; Masuabi, Queenin (24 July 2022). "PROVINCIAL CONFERENCE: A blow to Ramaphosa as Zuma's 'Taliban' slate sweep KZN elections". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
9. "KZN premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube unveils her new cabinet". SowetanLIVE. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
10. Singh, Karen. "Former KZN MECs Jomo Sibiya, Kwazi Mshengu and Hlengiwe Mavimbela thank the ANC for opportunity to serve". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
11. Phungula, Willem (15 February 2023). "Former KZN Education MEC leaves the legislature". IOL. Retrieved 22 June 2023.

• Living people
• 1984 births
• People from Mpofana Local Municipality
• Zulu people
• University of KwaZulu-Natal alumni
• Members of the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature
• African National Congress politicians
• 21st-century South African politicians