Blade Nzimande

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The Honorable Blade Nzimande MP
9th National Chairperson of the South African Communist Party
Incumbent
Assumed office 16 July 2022
General Secretary	Solly Afrika Mapaila
Preceded by	Gwede Mantashe
Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology
Incumbent
Assumed office 30 May 2019
President	Cyril Ramaphosa
Preceded by	Position established
13th General Secretary of the South African Communist Party
In office 1998 – 16 July 2022
Deputy	Solly Afrika Mapaila (2012–2022)
Preceded by	Charles Nqakula
Succeeded by	Solly Afrika Mapaila
Additional offices held Minister of Transport In office 28 February 2018 – 29 May 2019 President Cyril Ramaphosa Preceded by Joseph Maswanganyi Succeeded by Fikile Mbalula Acting Minister of Home Affairs In office 13 November 2018 – 22 November 2018 Preceded by Malusi Gigaba Succeeded by Siyabonga Cwele--> Minister of Higher Education and Training In office 11 May 2009 – 17 October 2017 President Jacob Zuma Preceded by Naledi Pandor Succeeded by Hlengiwe Mkhize
Personal details
Born	Bonginkosi Emmanuel Nzimande (1958-04-14) 14 April 1958 (age 66) Edendale, Msunduzi, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa
Citizenship	South Africa
Political party	South African Communist Party
Other political affiliations	African National Congress (Tripartite Alliance)
Spouse	Phumelele Ntombela-Nzimande
Children	2
Education	University of Natal (PhD)
Occupation	Politician sociologist philosopher educator anti-apartheid activist

Bonginkosi Emmanuel "Blade" Nzimande (born 14 April 1958 in Edendale near Pietermaritzburg) is a South African politician, sociologist, philosopher, educator, anti-apartheid activist and Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology. He was Minister of Transport from 2018 to 2019, and Minister for Higher Education and Training from 2009 to 2017.^[1] He was the General Secretary of the South African Communist Party from 1998 up until 2022.^[2][3]