Thembi Simelane | |
|---|---|
| Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development | |
| Assumed office 3 July 2024 | |
| President | Cyril Ramaphosa |
| Deputy | Andries Nel |
| Preceded by | Ronald Lamola |
| Member of the National Assembly | |
| Assumed office 14 June 2024 | |
| Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs | |
| In office 7 March 2023 – 19 June 2024 | |
| President | Cyril Ramaphosa |
| Deputy | Parks Tau Zolile Burns-Ncamashe |
| Preceded by | Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma |
| Succeeded by | Velenkosi Hlabisa |
| Deputy Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs | |
| In office 10 August 2021 – 6 March 2023 Serving with Obed Bapela | |
| President | Cyril Ramaphosa |
| Minister | Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma |
| Preceded by | Parks Tau |
| Succeeded by | Parks Tau |
| Mayor of Polokwane | |
| In office July 2014 – August 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Freddy Greaver |
| Succeeded by | John Mpe |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Thembisile Phumelele Simelane 10 February 1973 Bethal, Eastern Transvaal South Africa |
| Political party | African National Congress |
| Spouse |
Chipyane Nkadimeng (div. 2019) |
| Relations | Nokuthula Simelane (sister) |
| Alma mater | University of the North Stellenbosch University |
Thembisile Phumelele Simelane-Nkadimeng (born 10 February 1973) is a South African politician who is currently serving as the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development since July 2024. A member of the African National Congress (ANC), she was previously the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs between March 2023 and June 2024.
Formerly a student activist at Turfloop, Nkadimeng began her career as a public servant and entered professional politics in July 2014 as Mayor of Polokwane. In the last years of her mayoral term, she was additionally the president of the South African Local Government Association from 2019 to 2021. She joined the national government in August 2021, when President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed her as Deputy Minister Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.
Pursuant to the ANC's 55th National Conference in December 2022, Nkadimeng was elected to five-year terms on the party's National Executive Committee and National Working Committee. Ramaphosa promoted her to his cabinet in the aftermath of the conference, and she was appointed to her current position after the May 2024 general election.