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Ben Skosana

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Ben Skosana
Member of the National Assembly
In office
9 May 1994 – 11 February 2014
Minister of Correctional Services
In office
August 1998 – April 2004
President
Preceded bySipo Mzimela
Succeeded byNgconde Balfour
Personal details
Born(1947-05-07)7 May 1947
Sharpeville, Transvaal
Union of South Africa
Died11 February 2014(2014-02-11) (aged 66)
Cape Town, South Africa
Political partyInkatha Freedom Party
Alma materPacific Western University

Moleeane Ben Skosana (7 May 1947 – 11 February 2014) was a South African politician who served as Minister of Correctional Services from 1998 to 2004. He was a founding member of Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) and represented the party in the National Assembly from 1994 until his death in 2014. He also served as House Chairperson of the National Assembly from 2009.

Early life and career

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Skosana was born on 7 May 1947 in Sharpeville in the former Transvaal.[1][2] He qualified as a teacher and later completed both a bachelor's and a master's in international affairs at Pacific Western University in the United States.[3] He was a founding member of Inkatha (later renamed the IFP) in 1975.[1][4]

From 1981 to 1986, Skosana was the director of the Zululand Churches and Welfare Association, a development agency focusing on rural development in Zululand. After resigning from the agency, he became Inkatha's permanent representative in London.[3] He returned to South Africa during the negotiations to end apartheid and was a member of the IFP's delegation to the Convention for a Democratic South Africa.[5]

Legislative career: 1994–2014

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In South Africa's first post-apartheid election in 1994, Skosana was elected to an IFP seat in the new National Assembly.[6] Towards the end of the legislative term, in August 1998, President Nelson Mandela appointed him to replace Sipo Mzimela as Minister of Correctional Services in the multi-party Government of National Unity.[7] Although the requirement for multi-party representation lapsed after the 1999 general election, Skosana was retained in the cabinet of Mandela's successor, President Thabo Mbeki.[8]

After the 2004 general election, Mbeki did not reappoint Skosana but instead replaced him with Ngconde Balfour.[9] However, Skosana remained an ordinary Member of Parliament, and, after his re-election to his seat in 2009, he was appointed as the House Chairperson in the National Assembly.[10] He remained in that position until his death in 2014.[3]

Death

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Skosana died unexpectedly on 11 February 2014 after having collapsed while having dinner with his friend, Thulas Nxesi, at a restaurant in Cape Town.[3] He was granted a provincial official funeral.[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Ben Skosana". South African History Online. 11 October 2011. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  2. ^ "Parliament 'deeply saddened' by Skosana's passing". The Mail & Guardian. 12 February 2014. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d Maqhina, Mayibongwe (12 February 2014). "Tributes to 'committed and selfless patriot' Ben Skosana after sudden death". Witness. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  4. ^ "Skosana a 'man of skill'". Sunday Times. 13 February 2014. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Provincial official funeral for Ben Skosana". South African Government News Agency. 21 February 2014. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  6. ^ "Minutes of proceedings of the Constitutional Assembly" (PDF). Department of Justice and Constitutional Development. 24 May 1994. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
  7. ^ "Mzimela heads back to the ANC". The Mail & Guardian. 7 August 1998. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  8. ^ "Profiles of the Cabinet ministers". The Mail & Guardian. 17 June 1999. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  9. ^ "IFP, ANC reach agreement in KZN". The Mail & Guardian. 4 May 2004. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  10. ^ "Moleeane Ben Skosana". People's Assembly. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
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