Sihle Zikalala (born 6 August 1973) is a South African politician from KwaZulu-Natal who has been the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure and a Member of the National Assembly of South Africa since 2023, representing the African National Congress. Before his redeployment to the national government, he had been the Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs in KwaZulu-Natal and a Member of the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature.
He served as the 8th Premier of KwaZulu-Natal from 2019 until his resignation in 2022 and as the Provincial Chairperson of the African National Congress from 2015 to 2022. He has held various leadership positions in the ANC. From 2016 to 2019, he served as the MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs in the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government.
Early life and education
Sihle Zikalala was born on 6 August 1973 in the town of Ndwedwe in Natal. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Science. In April 2017, he achieved a Bachelor of Administration Honours cum laude from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Zikalala obtained a master's degree in commerce from the Graduate School of Business and Leadership in 2019.
Political career
Zikalala joined the African National Congress (ANC) in 1990 and became a full-time organiser for the party in Ndwedwe between 1993 and 1994. He initially established structures for the party. He has held many leadership positions in the African National Congress. Zikalala was a member of the party's Million Meyiwa Branch and served as ANC Zonal Chairperson from 1995 to 1996, before his election to the ANCYL North Durban Regional Executive Committee later on in 1996. He soon became Regional Chairperson in 1997, a post he held until his election as ANCYL Provincial Secretary in 2000.
Zikalala served as a councillor in the Ilembe District Municipality from 1996 to 2000.
He was elected Secretary-General of the African National Congress Youth League in 2004. In 2008, he was elected Deputy Provincial Secretary of the ANC KwaZulu-Natal structure and soon became Provincial Secretary in 2009.
Zikalala was elected ANC Provincial Chairperson on 8 November 2015 after he defeated incumbent Senzo Mchunu by a margin of 105 votes. He received 780 votes out of a total of 1,459 votes. Super Zuma succeeded Zikalala as Provincial Secretary.
He was sworn in as a Member of the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature on 26 November 2015 and consequently filled the vacancy created by the resignation of Super Zuma. Following his swearing-in as an MPL, opposition parties staged a walkout of the legislative chamber over Zikalala's decision to sit in the seat that is traditionally reserved for the Premier.
On 6 June 2016, the newly elected Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Willies Mchunu, appointed Zikalala to the position of MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs. He assumed office on 7 June 2016 and succeeded Michael Mabuyakhulu. He was also appointed as Leader of Government Business in the legislature.
Zikalala was re-elected unopposed for a second term as Provincial Chairperson of the party in July 2018.
Premiership
Following the May 2019 elections, Zikalala was selected as the party's KwaZulu-Natal Premier candidate, succeeding Willies Mchunu. He was elected to the office on 22 May 2019, and officially assumed the post on 27 May 2019. Following his inauguration, he announced his Executive Council, which consisted of youthful members.
On 8 July 2021, Zikalala admitted that the incarceration of former president Jacob Zuma would hurt the ANC's electoral chances in the November 2021 municipal elections. He commended the former president for handing himself over and said that he has never betrayed Zuma. Zikalala suggested that president Cyril Ramaphosa should consider granting Zuma a Presidential Pardon. The Democratic Alliance, an opposition party, subsequently accused him of abusing his position by asking Ramaphosa to grant Zuma a pardon. Zikalala called on Zuma supporters to refrain from violence as pro-Zuma protests turned violent.
On 15 July 2021, he was filmed allegedly assaulting an individual during the unrest in KwaZulu-Natal.