Hlengiwe Mkhize

Hlengiwe Buhle Mkhize MP (born 6 September 1952) is a former Minister of Higher Education and Training (South Africa), having been appointed to the position by former President Jacob Zuma since 17 October 2017, after previously serving as Deputy Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services in the government of South Africa. In February 2018, she was sacked from cabinet by President Cyril Ramaphosa. First elected to the National Assembly of South Africa in 2009 as part of the African National Congress. Professor Mkhize holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Social Work and Sociology from the University of Zululand; Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Psychology, and a Master of Clinical Psychology from the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

Mkhize is a founding member, and trustee, of the Children and Violence Trust since 1995, had been a trustee of the Malibongwe Business Trust from 2005. She was a senior lecturer and researcher at Wits University from 1990 until 1995. Mkhize was a board member of the South African Prisoner's Organisation for Human Rights from 1994 to 1995; Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Commissioner and Chairperson of the Reparations and Rehabilitation committee from 1995 to 2003. Prior to her appointment, Mkhize was ambassador to the Netherlands, had a short stint as Deputy Minister for Correctional Services and thereafter, from 2014 to 2017, served as the Deputy Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services.