Nomalungelo Gina Explained

Honorific Prefix:The Honourable
Office1:Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation
Honorific Suffix:MP
Term Start1:30 June 2024
President1:Cyril Ramaphosa
Predecessor1:Buti Manamela (for Higher Education, Science and Technology)
Minister1:Blade Nzimande
Office2:Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry
Alongside2:Fikile Majola
Minister2:Ebrahim Patel
President2:Cyril Ramaphosa
Termstart2:29 May 2019
Termend2:19 June 2024
Predecessor2:Bulelani Magwanishe
Successor2:Andrew Whitfield
Zuko Godlimpi
Office3:Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education
Termstart3:24 June 2014
Termend3:7 May 2019
1Blankname3:Speaker
1Namedata3:Baleka Mbete
Predecessor3:Hope Malgas
Successor3:Bongiwe Mbinqo-Gigaba
Office4:Member of the National Assembly
Constituency Am4:KwaZulu-Natal
Termstart4:6 May 2009
Birth Date:25 October 1969
Party:African National Congress
Birth Place:Ndwedwe, Natal Province
South Africa
Education:Inanda Seminary School
Alma Mater:University of Zululand
Otherparty:South African Communist Party

Nomalungelo Gina (born 25 October 1969) is a South African politician from KwaZulu-Natal who is currently serving as the Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation since June 2024. She has represented the African National Congress in the National Assembly since May 2009.

A teacher by profession, Gina entered politics through the South African Democratic Teachers Union and chaired the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education during the Fifth Parliament. She joined the national executive in May 2019 when President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed her as Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry. She held that office until after the May 2024 general election, when she was appointed to her current position.

Early life and career

Born on 25 October 1969,[1] Gina is from Ndwedwe in the former Natal Province (now KwaZulu-Natal).[2] She matriculated at the Inanda Seminary School and completed a teaching degree at the University of Zululand. Thereafter she was teacher in schools in Uthungulu District for more than 15 years. During that time she entered politics as a member, site steward, and provincial leader of the South African Democratic Teachers Union. She was also a member of the Musa Dladla regional branch of the African National Congress (ANC) in Richards Bay.

Legislator: 2009–2019

Gina joined the National Assembly of South Africa in the April 2009 general election, standing as an ANC candidate in the KwaZulu-Natal constituency.[3] During the Fourth Parliament, she was a member of the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training and an ANC whip in the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education.

After her re-election to the National Assembly in the May 2014 general election, the ANC announced that it would nominate her to succeed Hope Malgas as chairperson of the basic education committee, with Pinky Mokoto entering as the ANC's new whip.[4] She was formally elected to the chairmanship on 24 June 2014,[5] and she held the chair throughout the Fifth Parliament.[6] During that time, Gina was injured in a car accident while on a committee oversight visit to schools in the Cape Winelands. ANC representative Timothy Khoza died in the accident, and opposition politicians Ian Ollis and Cynthia Majeke were also injured.[7]

In the Fifth Parliament Gina was also the convenor of the social cluster of parliamentary committees. In addition, she served on the provincial executive committee of the South African Communist Party (SACP) in KwaZulu-Natal. The SACP's 8th provincial congress, held in Pongola in August 2018, elected Gina to succeed Nomvuzo Shabalala as SACP deputy provincial chairperson. She deputises provincial chairperson James Nxumalo.[8]

Deputy minister: 2019–present

Gina was re-elected to the National Assembly in the May 2019 general election, now ranked third on the ANC's party list for the KwaZulu-Natal constituency.[9] Announcing his cabinet on 29 May 2019, President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed Gina as one of two Deputy Ministers of Trade and Industry.[10] In the newly enlarged Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, she served under Minister Ebrahim Patel and alongside trade unionist Fikile Majola.[11]

When the KwaZulu-Natal branch of the ANC elected its candidates for the next general election, Gina was ranked first in the province.[12] She was re-elected to her National Assembly seat when the election was held in May 2024, and on 30 June 2024 President Ramaphosa appointed her as Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation under Minister Blade Nzimande.[13] She was sworn in on 3 July.

Personal life

Gina's husband was the ANC politician and trade unionist Cedric Gina, a former president of the National Union of Metalworkers;[14] he died in February 2019.[15] She has two sons.

References

  1. Web site: 10 April 2024 . Final Candidate Lists for 2024 National and Provincial Elections: Regional Candidates . 2024-07-06 . Electoral Commission of South Africa.
  2. Web site: Nomalungelo Gina, Ms . 2024-07-06 . South African Government.
  3. Web site: Nomalungelo Gina . 2024-07-06 . People's Assembly . en.
  4. Web site: 12 June 2014 . This is who'll chair parliamentary committees – ANC . 2024-07-06 . PoliticsWeb . en.
  5. Web site: 24 June 2014 . Basic Education: Election of Chairperson . 2024-07-06 . PMG . en.
  6. Web site: Merten . Marianne . 2019-05-29 . Horse-trading and compromises: Ramaphosa’s realpolitik Cabinet . 2024-07-06 . Daily Maverick . en.
  7. Web site: Heard . Janet . 2017-08-02 . Condolences pour in after MP dies in Paarl car crash . 2024-07-06 . Daily Maverick . en.
  8. News: Mthethwa . Bongani . 29 August 2018 . I've got no beef with Blade' says SACP KZN head Themba Mthembu . 26 December 2020 . Sunday Times .
  9. Web site: Merten . Marianne . 2019-03-17 . ANC lists will bring about new-look back benches, including premiers, MECs and tainted politicians . 2024-07-06 . Daily Maverick . en.
  10. Web site: Nicolson . Greg . 2019-05-29 . Ramaphosa cuts Cabinet from 36 to 28 ministers, half of whom are women . 2024-07-06 . Daily Maverick . en.
  11. Web site: 2019-06-22 . Just implementing existing plans will mark a ‘revolution’ in the state — Patel . 2024-07-06 . The Mail & Guardian . en-ZA.
  12. Web site: 2024-03-13 . ANC support for former health minister Mkhize remains strong in KZN . 2024-07-06 . The Witness . en-US.
  13. Web site: 2024-06-30 . South Africa’s post-election Cabinet enters new political territory after 30 years of democracy . 2024-07-06 . Daily Maverick . en.
  14. Web site: 2019-05-30 . New and lesser-known faces in Ramaphosa’s Cabinet . 2024-07-06 . The Mail & Guardian . en-ZA.
  15. Web site: Phungula . Willem . 4 February 2019 . 'Stress sent union boss to grave' . 2024-07-06 . Daily Sun . en-US.

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