Mr Sihle Zikalala is the former Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure of the Republic of South Africa (7 March 2023 – 30 June 2024). He was previously the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) in KwaZulu-Natal (2022 – 2023). He has held the position of Provincial Chairperson of the African National Congress in KwaZulu-Natal (2015 – 2022) and also served as Premier of KwaZulu-Natal (2019 – 2022). In December 2022, he was elected into the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the African National Congress. On 30 June 2024, Mr Zikalala was appointed Deputy Minister of the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI).

Zikalala joined the liberation movement at the tender age of fifteen years. It was the beginning of a journey that would see him entrusted with key responsibilities within the Liberation Movement in South Africa, including being appointed Secretary General of the ANC Youth League, ANC KZN Deputy Provincial Secretary and Provincial Secretary.

Prior to his deployment as Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Mr Zikalala was the MEC for Economic Development, Tourism, and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA) and Leader of Government Business – positions which he held with great diligence and passion. It was under Mr Zikalala and the legislature collective that the province of KwaZulu-Natal pioneered ground-breaking transformation programmes under Operation Vula, which included Radical Agrarian Socio-Economic Transformation (RASET) as well as a Bulk Buying and the Warehousing programme.

He has carved out a solid reputation for himself as an ardent proponent of the Black Industrialist Programme, a national government initiative which seeks to hasten the pace of the empowerment of black owned enterprises. Mr Zikalala contributed immensely to the attainment of peace in KwaZulu-Natal in the early 1990s. He remains seized with the task of deepening peace, advancing democracy and achieving social and economic prosperity for the people of South Africa.

At the heart of his efforts lies a passion to see the South African economy transformed, growing, and being competitive to reduce inequality, poverty, and unemployment.

Mr Zikalala is a champion for gender equality, youth empowerment, and an advocate for quality education. He strongly believes in education and regards it as an indispensable weapon in the arsenal to advance equality and improve people’s quality of life.

Deputy Minister Zikalala holds a degree in Communication Science from the University of South Africa, an Honours degree in Public Administration from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) and a Master’s degree in Leadership Studies from UKZN.