Frank Mdlalose
Encyclopedia
Dr Frank Themba Mdlalose was the first Premier
of the newly renamed KwaZulu-Natal
province in South Africa
, after the African National Congress
(ANC) won the country's first all-inclusive general election
in April 1994.
He was born on 29 November 1931 in Nquthu, northern Natal to Jaconia Mdlalose, a general dealer and Tabitha Mthembu, a tutor. He was educated at St Francis High School, Mariannhill, outside Durban
. He then attended the Fort Hare University - (alongside future Inkatha Freedom Party
(IFP) leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi
, to whom he is distantly related) - where he obtained a diploma. Mdlalose continued his studies at the University of Natal
and in 1958 he obtained his MB Ch B degree and became a resident doctor at Durban's King Edward Hospital. Subsequently he became a GP in Atteridgeville near Pretoria
and Steadville and Madadeni in northern Natal.
Between 1950 and 1953 Mdlalose was the branch president of the ANC Youth League. He joined the IFP at its launch in 1975. In 1978 he was appointed Minister of the Interior in the KwaZulu Legislative Assembly in Ulundi, a position he held until 1983, when he was appointed Minister of Health and Welfare, which he remained until 1990, whereupon he became national chairman of the IFP. In 1991, with Jacob Zuma
, then an ANC party chairperson for southern Natal, he set up the Peace and Reconstruction Foundation to rebuild the devastation that political violence had wrought in the province of Natal. Following the ANC's landslide election victory, he was premier of KwaZulu-Natal from May 1994 until March 1997 and was one of only two non-ANC provincial premiers at the time, (the other being the Western Cape
's Hernus Kriel
). During this time, in 1996, he had a meeting with the controversial leader of the Nation of Islam
, Louis Farrakhan
, who was on a high profile visit to South Africa. In April 1998 he was appointed as South Africa's ambassador
to Egypt
. After which he retired from the IFP in 2005.
He is married to Eunice Nokuthula Sikhosane. In late 2001 his son, Mandlenkosi, who had just recently qualified as a physician, was killed in a car accident, not long after one of his other sons, Thabo, had also died in a similar incident. They were survived by one other brother, [name?] and two sisters, Kosi and Jummy.
Premier of KwaZulu-Natal
The Premier of KwaZulu-Natal is the head of government of the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa.For a discussion of the election, role and powers of the Premier, see the article "Premier ".-List of Premiers of KwaZulu-Natal:...
of the newly renamed KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal is a province of South Africa. Prior to 1994, the territory now known as KwaZulu-Natal was made up of the province of Natal and the homeland of KwaZulu....
province in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, after the African National Congress
African National Congress
The African National Congress is South Africa's governing Africanist political party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in April 1994. It defines itself as a...
(ANC) won the country's first all-inclusive general election
South African general election, 1994
The South African general election of 1994 was an election held in South Africa to mark the end of apartheid, therefore also the first held with universal adult suffrage. The election was conducted under the direction of the Independent Electoral Commission .Millions queued in lines over a three...
in April 1994.
He was born on 29 November 1931 in Nquthu, northern Natal to Jaconia Mdlalose, a general dealer and Tabitha Mthembu, a tutor. He was educated at St Francis High School, Mariannhill, outside Durban
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
. He then attended the Fort Hare University - (alongside future Inkatha Freedom Party
Inkatha Freedom Party
The Inkatha Freedom Party is a political party in South Africa. Since its founding, it has been led by Mangosuthu Buthelezi. It is currently the fourth largest party in the National Assembly of South Africa.-History:...
(IFP) leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi
Mangosuthu Buthelezi
Inkosi Mangosuthu Buthelezi is a South African Zulu politician who founded the Inkatha Freedom Party in 1975 and continues to lead the party today.His praise name is Shenge.-Early life:...
, to whom he is distantly related) - where he obtained a diploma. Mdlalose continued his studies at the University of Natal
University of Natal
The University of Natal was a university in Natal, and later KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, that is now part of the University of KwaZulu-Natal. It was founded in 1910 as the Natal University College in Pietermaritzburg, and expanded to include a campus in Durban in 1931. In 1947, the university...
and in 1958 he obtained his MB Ch B degree and became a resident doctor at Durban's King Edward Hospital. Subsequently he became a GP in Atteridgeville near Pretoria
Pretoria
Pretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive and de facto national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital.Pretoria is...
and Steadville and Madadeni in northern Natal.
Between 1950 and 1953 Mdlalose was the branch president of the ANC Youth League. He joined the IFP at its launch in 1975. In 1978 he was appointed Minister of the Interior in the KwaZulu Legislative Assembly in Ulundi, a position he held until 1983, when he was appointed Minister of Health and Welfare, which he remained until 1990, whereupon he became national chairman of the IFP. In 1991, with Jacob Zuma
Jacob Zuma
Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma is the President of South Africa, elected by parliament following his party's victory in the 2009 general election....
, then an ANC party chairperson for southern Natal, he set up the Peace and Reconstruction Foundation to rebuild the devastation that political violence had wrought in the province of Natal. Following the ANC's landslide election victory, he was premier of KwaZulu-Natal from May 1994 until March 1997 and was one of only two non-ANC provincial premiers at the time, (the other being the Western Cape
Western Cape
The Western Cape is a province in the south west of South Africa. The capital is Cape Town. Prior to 1994, the region that now forms the Western Cape was part of the much larger Cape Province...
's Hernus Kriel
Hernus Kriel
Hernus Kriel was the first Premier of the Western Cape province. He previously served as the Minister of Law and Order in the South African government under Frederik Willem de Klerk....
). During this time, in 1996, he had a meeting with the controversial leader of the Nation of Islam
Nation of Islam
The Nation of Islam is a mainly African-American new religious movement founded in Detroit, Michigan by Wallace D. Fard Muhammad in July 1930 to improve the spiritual, mental, social, and economic condition of African-Americans in the United States of America. The movement teaches black pride and...
, Louis Farrakhan
Louis Farrakhan
Louis Farrakhan Muhammad, Sr. is the leader of the African-American religious movement the Nation of Islam . He served as the minister of major mosques in Boston and Harlem, and was appointed by the longtime NOI leader, Elijah Muhammad, before his death in 1975, as the National Representative of...
, who was on a high profile visit to South Africa. In April 1998 he was appointed as South Africa's ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. After which he retired from the IFP in 2005.
He is married to Eunice Nokuthula Sikhosane. In late 2001 his son, Mandlenkosi, who had just recently qualified as a physician, was killed in a car accident, not long after one of his other sons, Thabo, had also died in a similar incident. They were survived by one other brother, [name?] and two sisters, Kosi and Jummy.