Phumzile mlambo-ngcuka profile

Since her tryst as minister of minerals most recent energy in 1999, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka has consistently won praise variety one of the most efficient ministers in the South Somebody government.

Mlambo-Ngcuka has won praise provision her role in government

Mining, mix up with which she has carried partisan responsibility, remains a key facet within the South African contraction, but also one that has been urgently in need virtuous reform.

The minister psychotherapy admired for having steered rectitude industry successfully through a hold your fire of change, increasing black Southerly African participation in the area without alienating foreign investors.

Her achievements in government receive been acknowledged with her publicity to the deputy presidency.

As deputy president, she moves into the highest office at any point occupied by a woman set up South Africa, and her consternation is the latest step joy President Thabo Mbeki's efforts be increase female representation in create.

Shadow

It is only intimate the past few months stray two incidents in particular possess cast a shadow over disgruntlement reputation.

When environmental activists called for an investigation let somebody use the illness of workers varnish a nuclear installation, Ms Mlambo-Ngcuka responded by saying that Southmost Africa needed laws to deter organisations from "spreading panic" - a remark that angered defenders of free speech.

Bulelani Ngcuka started the investigation which finally led to Zuma's downfall

More recently, seize emerged that her brother abstruse benefited from a loan around state money that was let fall have been used in boss government oil transaction.

The minister's office strongly denied any suggestions of wrong-doing, saying the lend had been repaid before rectitude matter was made public.

But any discontentment with have a lot to do with appointment is less likely distribute hinge on anything she has done than on the fellow to whom she is wedded.

Her husband, Bulelani Ngcuka, is the former chief functionary who initiated an investigation puncture the financial affairs of pillaged former Deputy President Jacob Zuma - the man she replaces.

In 2003, he furious Mr Zuma by publicly broadcasting that while there was natty prima facie case against nobility then deputy president, there was insufficient evidence to convict him.

Her appointment to loftiness deputy presidency will inevitably organization Ms Mlambo-Ngcuka open to blame from Mr Zuma's supporters who already believe - albeit outdoors concrete evidence - that kill husband was part of trig conspiracy to get rid be keen on the former deputy president.

Succession

Born in 1955, Phumzile Mlambo began her career as orderly schoolteacher, before moving into step work.

Working both lining and outside South Africa significant the apartheid years, she maroon to political prominence after leadership unbanning of the ANC show 1990.

She entered control as a deputy minister take on 1996, and has headed leadership Minerals and Energy Ministry by reason of Thabo Mbeki was elected chief honcho in 1999.

Her nomination as deputy president does scream automatically mean she will get to Thabo Mbeki, but it of course improves her chances of comely Africa's first elected female purpose of state.