Mavuso Msimang
{{Short description|South African politician }}
{{use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{use South African English|date=July 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Mavuso Walter Msimang
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth year and age |1941}}
| birth_place = Edendale, outside Pietermaritzburg
| death_date =
| death_place =
| nationality = South African
| citizenship =
| alma_mater = University of Zambia
| known_for = Politics
| party = African National Congress
| awards = }}
Mavuso Walter Msimang (born 1941) is a South African civil servant and politician. He is a co-founder of African Parks, a Johannesburg-based conservation organization, and was CEO of South African National Parks (SANparks). In the 1960s, he was a member of the military high command of uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK), the armed wing of the African National Congress (ANC).
Early life and education
Mavuso Walter Msimang{{cn|date=June 2024}} was born in 1941 at in Edendale, outside Pietermaritzburg, and grew up around missionaries. While living with his grandmother in Jobstown, outside Newcastle during his primary school years, he remained unaware that his parents had divorced, only learning of it when he returned to Edendale to start high school.. In 1960 he matriculated at Inkamana High School, a catholic school in Vryheid.{{cite web|title=Mavuso Msimang has travelled the world and held a variety of positions|website=Sowetan Live|url=https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/2007-03-12-mavuso-msimang-has-travelled-the-world-and-held-a-variety-of-positions/|date=12 March 2007|access-date=5 November 2021}}
In 1976, he graduated from the University of Zambia with a Bachelor of Science in entomology, specialising in biochemistry. He also holds a Master of Business Administration from the United States International University, California.{{cite web | title=Mavuso Walter Msimang | website=South African History Online | url=https://www.sahistory.org.za/people/mavuso-walter-msimang |date=23 August 2019| access-date=5 November 2021| others=First created 9 September 2011.}}
Early political involvement
In the 1960s he was stationed at the ANC military base in Kongwa, Tanzania, and 1967 was Chief of Communications of MK.{{cite web | title=Mavuso Walter Msimang | website=South African History Online | url=https://www.sahistory.org.za/people/mavuso-walter-msimang |date=23 August 2019| access-date=6 July 2021| others=First created 9 September 2011.}} MK was a banned organisation which worked to topple the apartheid government in South African from the 1960s through to the early 1990s, when the country transitioned to majority rule.{{cite web | title=uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Timeline 1961-1990 | website=South African History Online | url=https://www.sahistory.org.za/article/umkhonto-wesizwe-mk-timeline-1961-1990 | access-date=6 July 2021}}
He moved to Zambia, where there was a large community of South African ANC members living in exile. Here he met his wife, Ntombi, who was an accountant, and had three daughters, including the writer and political analyst Sisonke Msimang.{{cite web | title=Long journey home | website=The West Australian | date=23 August 2018 | url=https://thewest.com.au/entertainment/books/long-journey-home-ng-b88912427z | access-date=4 July 2021}} He earned a BSc in entomology and biology from the University of Zambia in 1976, and a master's degree in business administration in 1984 from the United States International University while living in Kenya. USIU was later taken over by Alliant International University.{{cite web | title=uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Timeline 1961-1990 | website=South African History Online | url=https://www.sahistory.org.za/article/umkhonto-wesizwe-mk-timeline-1961-1990 | access-date=6 July 2021}}
Msimang worked as a UN volunteer from 1977 and later worked for the UN's World Food Programme in Kenya and Zambia between 1977 and 1984. From 1984 to 1987 he worked in both Ethiopia and Ottawa, Canada, for the World University Service of Canada (WUSC).{{cite web | title=uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Timeline 1961-1990 | website=South African History Online | url=https://www.sahistory.org.za/article/umkhonto-wesizwe-mk-timeline-1961-1990 | access-date=6 July 2021}} From 1987 to 1991 he was the country director in Kenya for CARE Canada, and from 1991 to 1993 he was a senior project officer for UNICEF in Ethiopia and Eritrea.
Post-apartheid career
Msimang moved back to South Africa after the end of apartheid with his family in 1993–1994,{{cite web | title=Sisonke Msimang | website=ABC: Q+A | date=27 May 2019 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/qanda/sisonke-msimang/11143220 | access-date=6 July 2021}} initially to Durban, where he worked as a business consultant and CEO of the Umthombo Pride Trust, before being appointed executive director of South African Tourism. He became CEO of South African National Parks in 1997,{{cite web | title=uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Timeline 1961-1990 | website=South African History Online | url=https://www.sahistory.org.za/article/umkhonto-wesizwe-mk-timeline-1961-1990 | access-date=6 July 2021}} which had begun a major re-conceptualisation from 1994.{{cite report| url=https://www.sanparks.org/assets/docs/general/annual-report-2019.pdf |website= South African National Parks| title=Annual Report 2018/19| date=2019|isbn =9780621475401}}
He was CEO at the State Information Technology Agency from October 2003 and 2007, before being appointed Director-General of the Department of Home Affairs in 2007. He retired from this role in 2010.{{cite web | title=Mavuso Msimang | website=WWF South Africa | url=https://www.wwf.org.za/land/?23928/Mavuso-Msimang | access-date=6 July 2021}}
Msimang was one of the founders of African Parks Network, and is {{as of|2021|lc=yes}} Emeritus Board Member.{{cite web | title=Mavuso Msimang | website=African Parks | url=https://www.africanparks.org/about-us/our-people/mavuso-msimang | access-date=6 July 2021}} He has been a member of the World Wildlife Fund South Africa Board since February 2011, and {{as of|2021|lc=yes}} and chairs the Social Ethics and Transformation Committee as well as sitting on the Board's Remuneration and Human Resources and Nomination Committees.He also chairs Corruption Watch, and serves on a range of civic society, environmental management and private sector boards.
In the wake of diminished support for the ANC in the 2021 municipal elections, he has been critical of the factional politics within the party, in his capacity as a member of the ANC National Executive Committee.{{cite web|title=RET knives out for Ramaphosa: Zuma faction mobilises to blame party president for poor ANC showing|website=Daily Maverick|url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-11-04-ret-knives-out-for-ramaphosa-zuma-faction-mobilises-to-blame-party-president-for-poor-anc-showing/|first1=Chris|last1=Makhaye|first2=Nce|last2=Mkhize|date=4 November 2021|access-date=5 November 2021}} He did not stand for re-election to the NEC at the party's 55th National Conference in 2022.{{Cite web |title=FULL LIST: ANC NEC members {{!}} eNCA |url=https://www.enca.com/news/full-list-anc-nec-members |access-date=2023-07-30 |website=www.enca.com |language=en}}
During the third national conference of the African National Congress Veterans' League held in July 2023, Msimang was elected unopposed as deputy president of the league.{{Cite web |last=Koko |first=Khaya |title=Kgalema Motlanthe lauds gender, race mix in ANC Veterans' League executive committee |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/politics/political-parties/kgalema-motlanthe-lauds-gender-race-mix-in-anc-veterans-league-executive-committee-20230730 |access-date=2023-07-30 |website=News24 |language=en-US}}
Msimang resigned from the ANC in December 2023, citing endemic corruption and its consequences for the country, especially the poor.{{cite web|url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-12-07-anc-veteran-of-60-years-mavuso-msimang-painfully-severs-ties-tenders-devastating-resignation/|title=ANC veteran of 60 years Mavuso Msimang 'painfully' severs ties, tenders devastating resignation|first=Queenin|last=Masuabi|date=7 December 2023|publisher=Daily Maverick}} A week later it was reported that he had withdrawn his resignation after discussions with the Secretary General of the ANC, Fikile Mbalula.{{Cite news |last=Maeko |first=Thando |date=14 December 2023 |title=Mavuso Msimang withdraws resignation from ANC after meeting with Mbalula |work=Business Day |url=https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/politics/2023-12-14-mavuso-msimang-withdraws-resignation-from-anc-after-meeting-with-mbalula/ }}
= Controversies =
Msimang was accused of misappropriating funds from the Umthombo Pride Trust where he was CEO between 1993 and 1994. These claims were never proven and he blamed dismissed employees for the allegations.{{Cite news |last=Webb |first=Boyd |date=27 October 2007 |title='No one asked for my side of sex-pest saga' |work=IOL |url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/no-one-asked-for-my-side-of-sex-pest-saga-376634 |url-status=live |access-date=12 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231212093342/https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/no-one-asked-for-my-side-of-sex-pest-saga-376634 |archive-date=12 December 2023}}
In 2007 while CEO of SITA Msimang was accused of sexual harassment. Charges were filed but later withdrawn. He blamed the media for circulating the allegations without getting his side of the story.{{Cite web |date=22 May 2007 |title=Sex charges baseless - Msimang |url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/sex-charges-baseless-msimang-354097 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231212093324/https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/sex-charges-baseless-msimang-354097 |archive-date=12 December 2023 |access-date=12 December 2023 |website=IOL}} One of his daughters, Sisonke Msimang, herself a women’s rights activist, wrote a piece defending her father from the allegations and criticising the media and feminists for their reactions, saying that she was "saddened, but not surprised" by the latter. She also stated that the accuser was one of her former colleagues.{{Cite news |last=Msimang |first=Sisonke |date=12 November 2007 |title=My father the 'sex pest' |work=Mail and Guardian |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2007-11-12-my-father-the-sex-pest/ |url-status=live |access-date=12 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231212094031/https://mg.co.za/article/2007-11-12-my-father-the-sex-pest/ |archive-date=12 December 2023}}
Personal life
Msimang has three daughters, including writer Sisonke Msimang.
References
{{reflist}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Msimang, Mavuso}}
Category:South African civil servants
Category:UMkhonto we Sizwe personnel