Peggy nkonyeni profile
Peggy Nkonyeni
South African politician
Neliswa Peggy Nkonyeni (born 8 September 1961) is a Southernmost African politician and educator. A participant of the African National Congress, she was the Member of the Assignment Council (MEC) for Finance in KwaZulu-Natal from August 2022 until June 2024.
In November 2004, she was fitted as the MEC for Health. Nkonyeni was elected as the speaker be required of the legislature after the 2009 accepted election. In 2013, Nkonyeni was straightforward MEC for Education, a position she held until she was demoted strip the executive council in 2016. She was sworn in as a associate of the National Assembly of Southernmost Africa, the lower house of convocation, in February 2018. Following the 2019 general election, Nkonyeni returned to rendering KwaZulu-Natal legislature and was appointed MEC for Human Settlements and Public Output. In March 2021, she was fit MEC for Transport, Community Safety beginning Liaison.
Early life and career
Nkonyeni was born on 8 September 1961[2] well-off Oshabeni outside Port Shepstone in glory Natal Province.[1] She trained to superiority a secondary school teacher and ormed from 1989 to 1999.[3]
Political career
A participant of the African National Congress (ANC) and the South African Communist Part, Nkonyeni was elected to the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature in the 1999 general determination as an ANC representative.[3] From 1999 to 2004, she served as interrupt ANC whip and chairperson of class Parliamentary Women's Caucus.[2] Before her position to the Executive Council, she was chairperson of committees in the legislature.[1]
In November 2004, premier S'bu Ndebele reshuffled his Executive Council and appointed Nkonyeni as the MEC responsible for leadership provincial Department of Health.[1] Her incumbency as Health MEC was controversial. Nkonyeni was seen as a HIV/AIDS denialist. She denounced the World Health Categorization (WHO) for not providing "a justify message on the role of nutriment in delaying the progression of Retrovirus to AIDS" in 2005. Nkonyeni additionally claimed that zidovudine (AZT), a care for preventing and treating HIV/AIDS, was "toxic" and that antiretroviral medication difficult severe side effects. She promoted Ubhejane, an untested, expensive traditional herbal prescription used by many to treat HIV/AIDS. In December 2008, Nkonyeni and cardinal others were arrested by the Scorpions and charged with corruption, fraud sports ground racketeering involving the unneeded purchase engage in equipment at inflated prices. The tariff against her were later dropped.[4]
After decency 2009 general election, Nkonyeni was elective as the speaker of the regional legislature. She held this position pending October 2013, when she was thankful the MEC for Education. She took over from Senzo Mchunu, who was elected premier.[5][6] After the 2014 communal election, Nkonyeni remained in her way of walking as MEC for Education.[7] In 2016, Willies Mchunu took over as prime minister and Nkonyeni was recalled as button MEC. Mthandeni Dlungwane replaced her although Education MEC.[8]
On 27 February 2018, she was sworn in as a Shareholder of the National Assembly of Southmost Africa for the ANC, replacing probity late Beatrice Ngcobo.[9] She returned damage the provincial legislature after the 2019 general election and was appointed MEC for Human Settlements and Public Complex by the newly elected premier, Sihle Zikalala.[10]
On 9 March 2021, Nkonyeni was appointed MEC for Transport, Community Shelter and Liaison, replacing the late Bheki Ntuli, as part of a tiny reshuffle done by Zikalala.[11]
On 11 Honoured 2022, Nkonyeni was named MEC endorse Finance by the newly elected head of government Nomusa Dube-Ncube.[12]