Thuthukile Zuma
Chief of Staff, Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services
In office
May 2014 – December 2015
Succeeded byFrans Mthombeni
Personal details
Born (1989-04-28) 28 April 1989
Political partyAfrican National Congress
Parent(s)Jacob Zuma
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma

Thuthukile Zuma (born 28 April 1989) is the youngest of former South African president Jacob Zuma's four daughters with ex-wife Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.

She was the chief of staff to Minister Siyabonga Cwele in the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services, and held the distinction of being the youngest head of a minister’s office ever appointed in South Africa. Her appointment was criticised due to her youth, her perceived lack of skills and experience for the position,[1] and her close personal relationship with the president, raising concerns of nepotism.[2][3][4]

Early life

Zuma graduated from Westerford High School in December, 2006, and went on to complete a degree in anthropology in 2012 from the University of Witwatersrand.[5] She co-owns Nyenyedzi Productions with her sisters Nokuthula Nomaquawe and Gugulethu Zuma-Ncube, which production company produced Mzansi Magic's sitcom, It’s for Life, in 2011.[6] Also in 2011, she and her sister Gugulethu volunteered at Luthuli House, the headquarters of the African National Congress (ANC).[7][8]

She then joined the State Security Agency as a public liaison officer for less than a year, and, after the 2014 national elections, moved to the position of chief of staff for the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services, where she received an annual salary of almost R1 million. It was reported that the position was never advertised, contrary to proper government procurement procedures.[1][2][8] A statement released by the Department stated that “The minister only considered her capacity to do the job and her qualifications. Her genealogy was never a consideration.”[9] The Public Service Commission investigated the appointment after complaints were lodged.[1]

Zuma resigned from her position as chief of staff in December, 2015.[5] She continues to be involved in the ANC, and politics on behalf of her father and mother.[10]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Czernowalow, Martin (22 September 2014). "DTPS mum on Thuthukile Zuma". ITWeb Technology News. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  2. 1 2 Pillay, Verashni; Mataboge, Mmanaledi (25 July 2014). "Zuma's daughter gets top state job". Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
  3. ↑ "Ministry defends appointment of Zuma's daughter". Business Day. 25 July 2014. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
  4. ↑ "Zuma's daughter lands top job aged 25". eNCA. 25 July 2014. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  5. 1 2 Mothombeni, Aubrey (22 February 2016). "President Zuma's daughter quits government post". Sunday World. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  6. ↑ Pauw, Jacques; van der Merwe, Jeanne (27 July 2014). "Jacob Zuma's family empire". City Press. Archived from the original on 1 August 2014. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  7. ↑ "Zuma's daughters spark job controversy". The Star. 30 September 2011. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  8. 1 2 Smith, David (29 July 2014). "Jacob Zuma accused of nepotism after giving daughter ministry position". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  9. ↑ Mulligan, Gabriella (25 July 2014). "Zuma's daughter appointed chief of staff at telecoms department". Human IPO. Archived from the original on 28 July 2014. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
  10. ↑ "Zuma and Dlamini-Zuma's daughter attacks ANC leaders". The Citizen. 6 February 2017. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
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