Sicelo Shiceka

Minister for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

Date of Birth: 08/06/1966
Place of Birth: Johannesburg

Education: Masters, Political Economy, University of Free State; Diploma, Economic studies, Wharton Business School, USA; Diploma, Labour Relations, University of the Witwatersrands

Biography: Branch Chairman, Congress of South African Students, 1980; Organiser, Paper, Printing, Wood and Allied Workers Union, 1989; Provincial Secretary, PPWAWU, 1990; Deputy Chair, Johannesburg branch, South African Community Party, 1991; Provincial Secretary, COSATU, 1992; Gauteng Member, MEC for Development Planning and Local Government, 1994-99; Political Committee, ANC NEC, 2007; Minister of Provincial and Local Government, 2008-09; Minister for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, 2009 to date

Commentary: A close ally of President Zuma, Sicelo Shiceka was one of the few ministers to sign Zuma's July 2010 'performance agreements'. These contracts were largely unpopular with other cabinet members, who found them vaguely worded. However, a senior official said that those who signed these contacts knew that Zuma's friends would face no sanction in the event that they failed to deliver.