Mandla Nkomfe

Nkomfe is from Soweto in the former Transvaal, now part of Gauteng province.{{Cite book |last=Tau |first=Rebone |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=s-XwDwAAQBAJ&dq=mandla+nkomfe&pg=PT48 |title=The Rise and Fall of the ANC Youth League |date=2020-08-01 |publisher=Penguin Random House South Africa |isbn=978-1-77609-371-7 |language=en}} He was a prominent leader in anti-apartheid youth politics in the mid-1980s at the time of the formation of the South African Youth Congress. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master of Management degree, both from the University of the Witwatersrand.{{Cite book |last= |url=https://static.pmg.org.za/2_FFC_-_Annual_Report_-_2019_2020.pdf |title=Financial and Fiscal Commission Annual Report 2019/2020 |publisher=Financial and Fiscal Commission |year=2020 |isbn=978-0-621-48396-3 |location=Midrand |page=27 |access-date=6 January 2023}}

Nkomfe is a member of the African National Congress (ANC). From 1998{{Cite web |date=27 October 1998 |title=ANC Provincial Office Bearers |url=http://www.anc.org.za/lists/ancprovhead.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990221102306/http://www.anc.org.za/lists/ancprovhead.html |archive-date=21 February 1999 |access-date=2022-11-29 |website=African National Congress}} until 2010, he was the Deputy Provincial Secretary of the ANC in Gauteng, deputising Obed Bapela for one term and then David Makhura for three further terms. In 2007, he supported Paul Mashatile's successful bid to become ANC Provincial Chairperson.{{Cite web |date=2007-09-27 |title=Battle for the top ANC post in Gauteng begins |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2007-09-28-battle-for-the-top-anc-post-in-gauteng-begins/ |access-date=2023-01-06 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}} In January 2010, ahead of the expiry of his fourth term in the party office, Nkomfe indicated that he would not stand for re-election;{{Cite web |date=28 January 2010 |title=ANC Gauteng to meet for 'crucial' PEC lekgotla |url=https://www.polity.org.za/article/anc-gauteng-to-meet-for-crucial-pec-lekgotla-2010-01-28 |access-date=2023-01-06 |website=Polity |language=en}} he was succeeded by Humphrey Mmemezi in July that year.{{Cite web |date=2010-05-08 |title=Mashatile retains position as ANC chairperson |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2010-05-08-mashatile-retains-position-as-anc-chairperson/ |access-date=2023-01-06 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}

While serving in his party office, from 1999, Nkomfe was a Member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature. He also served as a presiding officer in the legislature as Chairperson of Committees from 1999 to 2004.{{Cite web |date=2010 |title=Mandla Nkomfe |url=https://chartsec.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=239&Itemid=314 |access-date=2023-01-06 |website=Chartered Governance Institution of South Africa}} After his re-election to the provincial legislature in the 2004 general election, Nkomfe was appointed Chief Whip of the Majority Party in the legislature, succeeding Richard Mdakane.{{Cite news |date=3 May 2004 |title=DA Slams ANC Over Gauteng Accounts Body |work=Business Day |url=https://allafrica.com/stories/200405030461.html |access-date=6 January 2023 |via=allAfrica}} In November 2006, a female member of the legislature accused Nkomfe of sexual harassment, alleging that he had touched her inappropriately and told her that she should have sex with him to advance her political career. Nkomfe was cleared of the charge by an internal ANC task team, which included Sophie Williams-De Bruyn, Amos Masondo, and ANC Women's League provincial leader Doreen Senokoanyane.{{Cite web |date=12 December 2006 |title=ANC whip cleared of sex charge |url=https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/2006-12-12-anc-whip-cleared-of-sex-charge/ |access-date=2023-01-06 |website=Sowetan |language=en-ZA}}{{Cite web |date=9 December 2006 |title=ANC chief whip cleared on sex charges |url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/anc-chief-whip-cleared-on-sex-charges-306786 |access-date=2023-01-06 |website=IOL |language=en}}

Nkomfe remained Chief Whip until October 2008, when ANC Provincial Chairperson Paul Mashatile was elected Premier of Gauteng after the incumbent, Mbhazima Shilowa, defected to the opposition Congress of the People. Nkomfe was appointed to Mashatile's Executive Council, where he replaced Mashatile as Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Finance and Economic Affairs; Lindiwe Maseko succeeded him as Chief Whip.{{Cite web |date=7 October 2008 |title=Paul Mashatile's inauguration address |url=https://www.politicsweb.co.za/documents/paul-mashatiles-inauguration-address |access-date=2022-12-29 |website=Politicsweb |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Iannucci |first=Esmarie |date=7 October 2008 |title=Manufacturing key to sustained growth as economic risks rise - Mashatile |url=https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/manufacturing-key-to-sustained-growth-as-economic-risks-rise-mashatile-2008-10-07/rep_id:4136 |access-date=2023-01-06 |website=Engineering News |language=en}}

After the 2009 general election, Nomvula Mokonyane, who succeeded Mashatile as Premier, retained Nkomfe as MEC for Finance.{{Cite web |date=2009-05-08 |title=Mokonyane reorganises 'Team Gauteng' |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2009-05-08-mokonyane-reorganises-team-gauteng/ |access-date=2023-01-06 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}} Before the election, Nkomfe had been considered a strong contender for election to the premiership himself.{{Cite web |date=30 April 2009 |title=Gauteng has a new premier |url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/gauteng-has-a-new-premier-441915 |access-date=2023-01-06 |website=IOL |language=en}} On 23 November 2012, he was named "Hero of the Week" by Corruption Watch, a Transparency International affiliate, which praised his "firm commitment to ridding the province of corruption" and "prioritising corruption busting in local government".{{Cite web |date=2012-11-23 |title=Gauteng finances in good hands |url=https://www.corruptionwatch.org.za/gauteng-finances-in-good-hands/ |access-date=2023-01-06 |website=Corruption Watch |language=en-GB}}

Ahead of the 2014 general election, Nkomfe was again one of the leading contenders to stand as the ANC's candidate for Premier of Gauteng.{{Cite web |date=14 May 2014 |title=Battle looms over Gauteng premier |url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2014-05-14-battle-looms-over-gauteng-premier/ |access-date=2023-01-06 |website=Sunday Times |language=en-ZA}}{{Cite web |date=16 May 2014 |title=Gauteng ANC premier choices decided |url=https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/2014-05-16-gauteng-anc-premier-choices-decided/ |access-date=2023-01-06 |website=Sowetan |language=en-ZA}} However, in April, Nkomfe withdrew his name from the ANC's provincial party list (on which he had initially been ranked fourth),{{Cite web |date=17 May 2014 |title=Makhura tops Gauteng list |url=https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/2014-05-17-makhura-tops-gauteng--list/ |access-date=2023-01-06 |website=Sowetan |language=en-ZA}} removing himself from contention for an ordinary seat in the provincial legislature as well as for the premiership.{{Cite web |date=16 May 2014 |title=Nkomfe says he will not be part of Gauteng legislature in new term |url=https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/politics/2014-05-16-nkomfe-says-he-will-not-be-part-of-gauteng-legislature-in-new-term/ |access-date=2023-01-06 |website=Business Day |language=en-ZA}} In the Executive Council he was succeeded by Barbara Creecy.{{Cite web |date=23 May 2014 |title=Media release on the appointment of the members of the Executive Council of the Gauteng Provincial Government by Premier David Makhura |url=https://www.gov.za/media-release-appointment-members-executive-council-gauteng-provincial-government-premier-david |access-date=2022-12-29 |website=South African Government}} He said that he would remain active in the ANC but would seek to pursue an academic career researching ICT policy and regulation.

From 2014, Nkomfe was employed as a special advisor to Minister Pravin Gordhan in the South African national government – first at the Ministry of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, then at the Ministry of Finance, and then, as of 2020, at the Ministry of Public Enterprises. In 2017 and 2018, he was involved in high-profile civic campaigns which opposed incumbent national President Jacob Zuma.{{Cite web |date=18 July 2017 |title=Programme of action to eject Zuma shaping up |url=https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/2017-07-18-programme-of-action-to-eject-zuma-shaping-up/ |access-date=2023-01-06 |website=Sowetan |language=en-ZA}}{{Cite web |date=5 February 2018 |title=Dear Cyril' Please don't let Zuma deliver SONA - Future SA |url=https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/south-africa/2018-02-05-dear-cyril-please-dont-let-zuma-deliver-sona-future-sa/ |access-date=2023-01-06 |website=Sowetan |language=en-ZA}} In April 2018, he was appointed to a five-year term on the board of the Financial and Fiscal Commission of South Africa. As of 2020, he was also a member of the board of trustees at the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation.

{{Reflist}}

• {{People's Assembly (South Africa)|nkomfe-mandla/|Nkomfe Mandla}}
• {{People's Assembly (South Africa)|gladstone-nkomfe|Gladstone Nkomfe}}

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Category:African National Congress politicians

Category:Politicians from Gauteng

Category:Living people

Category:People from Soweto

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)