Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula Biography: Age, Husband, Qualifications, Net Worth, Children, Son, Salary, Family

Biography

Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula (born November 13, 1956) is a prominent South African politician serving as Minister of Defence and Military Veterans. 

A member of the African National Congress (ANC), she has held various cabinet positions, including Minister of Home Affairs and Minister of Safety and Security. Mapisa-Nqakula is the trailblazing first woman to assume the role of South Africa’s Minister of Defense.

Her Minister of Defence and Military Veterans tenure spanned from June 2012 to August 2021. Prior to this, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula served as Minister of Home Affairs from 2004 to 2009 and Minister of Corrections from 2009 to 2012.

Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula
Wiki Facts & About Data
Full Name:	Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula
Stage Name:	Nosiviwe
Born:	13 November 1956 (age 67 years old)
Place of Birth:	Cape Town, South Africa
Nationality:	South African
Education:	University of Fort Hare
Height:	1.59 m
Parents:	Douglass Mapisa
Siblings:	Siviwe Mapisa
Spouse:	Charles Nqakula
Boyfriend • Partner:	N/A
Children:	Chumani Nqakula
Occupation:	Politician
Net Worth:	$1 million-$5 million (USD)

Early Life & Education

Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula was born on November 13, 1956, in Cape Town, South Africa, and spent her formative years in the township of Gugulethu during apartheid. Raised in a family deeply engaged in anti-apartheid activism, her father, Douglass Mapisa, was a notable member of the African National Congress (ANC). Notably, her brother Siviwe Mapisa collaborated with Valence Watson, and Mapisa-Nqakula, in turn, had a business association with Gavin Watson, the CEO of Dyambu Holdings, a company they co-founded.

Growing up in this politically charged environment, Mapisa-Nqakula actively participated in student movements, notably aligning herself with the South African Students’ Organization (SASO). Her involvement in activism continued alongside her pursuit of education.

Experiencing firsthand the injustices of apartheid as a young woman, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula joined the armed wing of the ANC, Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK), in the late 1970s. Dedicated to the liberation struggle, she underwent military training and played an active role in the fight against the apartheid government.

Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula earned a Bachelor of Arts in Education from the University of Fort Hare, South Africa, completing her studies in the 1980s.

Career

Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula immersed herself in anti-apartheid activism early, aligning with the African National Congress (ANC) in 1985 and actively participating in the struggle against apartheid.

Post-apartheid, Mapisa-Nqakula sustained her commitment to the ANC, assuming various roles within the party, notably serving as the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs from 1999 to 2004.

In 2004, she took on the Minister of Home Affairs role in the South African government, holding this position until 2009, when she transitioned to Minister of Correctional Services. Subsequently, in 2012, she assumed the pivotal role of Minister of Defense and Military Veterans, making history as the first woman to hold the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) general rank.

While overseeing the Ministry of Defence and Military Veterans, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula encountered several controversies, including the diplomatic scandal resulting from the unauthorized landing of a private aircraft from India at Waterkloof Air Force Base in 2013.

Social Media

Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula Is not active on social media. She does not have a personal Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram account. The only official social media accounts for the Minister of Defense and Military Veterans are the Department of Defense’s Twitter and Facebook accounts.

Personal Life

Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, the mother of three children, kept their names and personal information private. She shares a son, Chumani Nqakula, with her husband, Charles Nqakula, a South African politician and former Minister of Safety and Security. 

Tragically, Chumani Nqakula lost his life in October 2015 as a victim of a tragic incident involving a close friend named Carlos Higuera.

Net Worth

Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula‘s net worth is estimated to be between $1 million to $5 million. As a high-ranking government official, she likely earns a substantial salary, but her financial situation remains private.