Thulas Nxesi

The Honourable Thulas Nxesi
Nxesi in Parliament in September 2019
Minister of Employment and Labour
In office 30 May 2019 – 19 June 2024
President	Cyril Ramaphosa
Deputy	Boitumelo Moloi
Preceded by	Mildred Oliphant
Succeeded by	Nomakhosazana Meth
Member of the National Assembly
In office 6 May 2009 – 28 May 2024
Deputy National Chairperson of the South African Communist Party
Incumbent
Assumed office July 2012
General Secretary	Solly Mapaila Blade Nzimande
National Chairperson	Blade Nzimande Senzeni Zokwana
Preceded by	Joyce Moloi
Prior offices Acting Minister of Public Service and Administration In office 4 April 2022 – 7 March 2023 President Cyril Ramaphosa Preceded by Ayanda Dlodlo Succeeded by Noxolo Kiviet Minister of Public Works In office 28 February 2018 – 29 May 2019 President Cyril Ramaphosa Preceded by Nathi Nhleko Succeeded by Patricia de Lille In office 24 October 2011 – 31 March 2017 President Jacob Zuma Preceded by Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinde Succeeded by Nathi Nhleko Minister of Sport and Recreation In office 31 March 2017 – 28 February 2018 President Jacob Zuma Cyril Ramaphosa Preceded by Fikile Mbalula Succeeded by Tokozile Xasa Deputy Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform In office 1 November 2010 – 24 October 2011 President Jacob Zuma Minister Gugile Nkwinti
Union offices 1995–2009 President of Education International In office 2004–2009 Preceded by Mary Hatwood Futrell Succeeded by Susan Hopgood General Secretary of the South African Democratic Teachers' Union In office 1995–2009
Personal details
Born	Thembelani Waltermade Nxesi (1959-06-09) 9 June 1959 (age 65) Matatiele, Cape Province Union of South Africa
Political party	African National Congress
Other political affiliations	South African Communist Party
Spouse	Sesi Nxesi
Alma mater	University of Fort Hare Witwatersrand University
Nickname	Thulas

Thembelani Waltermade "Thulas" Nxesi (born 9 June 1959) is a South African politician and former trade unionist who was the Minister of Employment and Labour from May 2019 to June 2024. A representative of the African National Congress (ANC), he has been a member of cabinet since October 2011 and the Deputy National Chairperson of the South African Communist Party (SACP) since July 2012.

A teacher by profession, Nxesi rose to prominence as the General Secretary of the South African Democratic Teachers' Union from 1995 to 2009. He was also the President of Education International between 2004 and 2009. He entered the National Assembly at the 2009 general election, and in 2010 he was appointed as Deputy Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform in the government of President Jacob Zuma. The following year, Zuma promoted him to the cabinet, first as Minister of Public Works from 2011 to 2017 and then as Minister of Sport and Recreation from 2017 to 2018. Under Zuma's successor, President Cyril Ramaphosa, Nxesi returned briefly to the Ministry of Public Works in 2018 before he was appointed to his current position in 2019. He was also Acting Minister of Public Service and Administration from April 2022 to March 2023. Nxesi was ranked too low on the ANC's national list to be re-elected to Parliament at the 2024 general election.

Nxesi was a member of the ANC National Executive Committee from 2012 to 2017, and he was elected to his third five-year term as SACP Deputy National Chairperson in July 2022.