Shepherd Mdladlana
{{Short description|South African politician (1952–2024)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
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| office = South African High Commissioner to Canada
| term_start = September 2012
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| vicepresident =
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| predecessor = Mohau Pheko
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| office2 = Minister of Labour
| term_start2 = July 1998
| term_end2 = 30 October 2010
| vicepresident2 =
| viceprimeminister2 =
| president2 = Jacob Zuma
Kgalema Motlanthe
Thabo Mbeki
Nelson Mandela
| predecessor2 = Tito Mboweni
| successor2 = Mildred Oliphant
| birth_date = {{birth date|1952|05|12|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Keiskammahoek, Cape Province, Union of South Africa
| death_date = {{death date and age|2024|10|18|1952|05|12|df=yes}}
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| nationality = South African citizenship
| party = ANC
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| alma_mater = University of South Africa
| occupation = Politician
| profession = Teacher
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Membathisi Mphumzi Shepherd Mdladlana (12 May 1952 – 18 October 2024) was a South African politician who served as the South African High Commissioner to Canada.{{Cite web|url=http://www.southafrica-canada.ca/pages_canada/high_commissioner.html|title=SOUTH AFRICA HIGH COMMISSION IN CANADA|website=www.southafrica-canada.ca|access-date=11 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140112082415/http://www.southafrica-canada.ca/pages_canada/high_commissioner.html|archive-date=12 January 2014|url-status=dead}} He was born in Keiskammahoek, Eastern Cape.
Life and career
Mdladlana was born in Keiskammahoek, Cape Province, Union of South Africa on 12 May 1952.{{cite web |url=http://www.info.gov.za/gol/gcis_profile.jsp?id=1045 |title=Archived copy |accessdate=11 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090515005653/http://www.info.gov.za/gol/gcis_profile.jsp?id=1045 |archivedate=15 May 2009 }}
From 1998 until 2010, he served as Minister of Labour, following his appointment by Nelson Mandela. A teacher by training, Mdladlana earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of South Africa in 1997 in education and the IsiXhosa language. From 1972 to 1981, Mdladlana was a teacher at Vukukhanye Primary School in Gugulethu, a township outside of Cape Town. From 1982 to 1994, he was the principal of Andile Primary School in Crossroads, Western Cape. In 1994, the Eastern Cape native was elected to the first non-racial parliament in South African history with the African National Congress. In 1998, President Nelson Mandela appointed him to the position of Minister of Labour. He served under four Presidents: Mandela, Thabo Mbeki, Kgalema Motlanthe,[http://www.whoswhosa.co.za/Pages/profilefull.aspx?IndID=911 Membathisis Mdladlana] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090424071656/http://www.whoswhosa.co.za/Pages/profilefull.aspx?IndID=911 |date=24 April 2009 }} at Who's Who SA and Jacob Zuma.
Mdladlana died on 18 October 2024, at the age of 72, from COVID-19.{{cite news |title=Former Minister of Labour Membathisi Mdladlana dies at 72 |url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/breaking-former-minister-of-labour-membathisi-mdladlana-dies-at-72-1c98f2d7-8e61-4d38-8b58-bf7f87cd5337?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3r3sPXgEQS4TyReDGgJCeAmU_vFZxqT_WfN9fp22PZ_nXOQegE6ZVE3Qg_aem_DL9sJ9DwoYK3HFGB726J3A |access-date=18 October 2024 |publisher=IOL |date=18 October 2024}}{{Cite web |date=26 October 2024 |title='Covid-19 took Membathisi Mdladlana's life' - eNCA |url=https://www.enca.com/top-stories/covid-19-took-membathisi-mdladlanas-life?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2dkB8vmZAIKyQ5Tg4hWB3sx2CeR7t-aTtynxfHua829Yoqb29hXZZG-Oo_aem_SD-I3N8K2VGRaUNWoQD3Tw |access-date=27 October 2024 |website=www.enca.com |language=en}}
References
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{{Nelson Mandela cabinet 2}}
{{Thabo Mbeki cabinet 1}}
{{Thabo Mbeki cabinet 2}}
{{Kgalema Motlanthe cabinet 1}}
{{Jacob Zuma cabinet 1}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mdladlana, Membathisi}}
Category:People from Keiskammahoek
Category:African National Congress politicians
Category:Government ministers of South Africa
Category:Members of the National Assembly of South Africa 1994–1999
Category:Members of the National Assembly of South Africa 2004–2009
Category:South African schoolteachers
Category:University of South Africa alumni
Category:High commissioners of South Africa to Canada
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