Charles Nqakula

Political Advisor to the Presidency

Date of Birth: 13/09/1942
Place of Birth: Craddock

Biography: Journalist, Midland News, Cradock, 1966; Political Reporter, Imvo Zabantsundu, King Williamstown, 1973; Journalist, Daily Dispatch, 1976-81; Founder, Veritas News Agency, Zwelitsha, 1982; Publicity Secretary, United Democratic Front, 1983; Deputy General-Secretary, South African Communist Party, 1993-99; Parliamentary Councillor, Office of the President, 1999-01; Deputy Minister, Ministry of Home Affairs, 2001-02; Minister of Safety and Security, 2002-08; Minister of Defence, 2008-09; Political Advisor to the Presidency, 2009 to date.

Commentary: Charles Nqakula was the chair of the South African Communist Party and a commander of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing of the African National Congress during the apartheid era. He came into government in 2001, he did not impress in his demanding and time-consuming job. He was a close ally of Thabo Mbeki.
More recently, he has felt side-lined by Zuma, and it is thought that he could be on his way out.