Zweli Mkhize

The Honourable Zweli Mkhize MP
24th Minister of Health of South Africa
In office 30 May 2019 – 5 August 2021
President	Cyril Ramaphosa
Deputy	Joe Phaahla
Preceded by	Aaron Motsoaledi
Succeeded by	Joe Phaahla
Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
In office 27 February 2018 – 29 May 2019
President	Cyril Ramaphosa
Preceded by	Des van Rooyen
Succeeded by	Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma
Treasurer General of the African National Congress
In office 18 December 2012 – 18 December 2017
Preceded by	Mathews Phosa
Succeeded by	Paul Mashatile
5th Premier of KwaZulu-Natal
In office 6 May 2009 – 1 September 2013
Preceded by	S'bu Ndebele
Succeeded by	Senzo Mchunu
Chancellor of the University of KwaZulu-Natal
In office 18 May 2009 – August 2017
Preceded by	Frene Ginwala
Succeeded by	Mogoeng Mogoeng
Personal details
Born	Zwelini Lawrence Mkhize (1956-02-02) 2 February 1956 (age 68) Willowfontein, Pietermaritzburg, Natal Union of South Africa
Political party	African National Congress
Spouse	May Mashego
Children	Naledi Nokulinda Dedani
Alma mater	University of Natal (MBChB)
Occupation	Doctor politician anti-apartheid activist

Zwelini Lawrence Mkhize (born 2 February 1956) is a South African medical doctor and politician who served as the Minister of Health from May 2019 until his resignation on 5 August 2021. He previously served as the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs from 2018 to 2019. Before that, he was the fifth Premier of KwaZulu-Natal from 2009 to 2013.

A former anti-apartheid activist in Umkhonto we Sizwe, Mkhize was formerly a provincial politician in his home province of KwaZulu-Natal, with particular influence in the KwaZulu-Natal midlands. He was a Member of the Executive Council in the provincial government between 1994 and 2004 and was elected provincial chairperson of the African National Congress (ANC) in 2008. He rose to national prominence in 2012 when he was elected national Treasurer-General of the ANC at the party's 53rd National Conference. He also campaigned unsuccessfully for the ANC presidency ahead of the 54th National Conference in 2017.

As Minister of Health under President Cyril Ramaphosa, Mkhize played a central role in South Africa's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, he resigned in 2021 amid allegations that he and his family had benefitted improperly from a state contract awarded by the Department of Health to a communications company called Digital Vibes.