Jabu Mbalula

Jabu Mbalula
MPL
Member of the Free State Executive Council for Community Safety, Roads and Transport
Incumbent
Assumed office
23 June 2024
PremierMaqueen Letsoha-Mathae
Preceded byMaqueen Letsoha-Mathae
Member of the Free State Provincial Legislature
Incumbent
Assumed office
14 June 2024
Personal details
Born
Jabu Ntsokolo Ishmael Mbalula

(1967-12-15) 15 December 1967
NationalitySouth African
Political partyAfrican National Congress
RelativesFikile Mbalula (brother)
Alma materUniversity of the Free State
Da Vinci Institute
ProfessionPolitician, diplomat

Jabu Ntsokolo Ishmael Mbalula (born 15 December 1967) is a South African politician and former diplomat. A member of the African National Congress, he was elected to the Free State Provincial Legislature in the 2024 general election. He was appointed Member of the Executive Council for Community Safety, Roads and Transport shortly afterwards. Mbalula is the older brother of the incumbent Secretary-General of the African National Congress, Fikile Mbalula.

Early life and education

Mbalula was born on 15 December 1967.[1] He enrolled at the University of the Free State in 1994, however, he took a break from his studies in 1997. He later returned to the university and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Governance and Political Transformation in 2014. The following year, he received a postgraduate qualification in Labour Law.[2] He proceeded to study for a Master of Public Administration in 2016, but had to discontinue his studies due to his appointment as South Africa's ambassador to Romania in 2017.[2] In 2024, Mbalula graduated from the Da Vinci Institute with a master's degree in Technology and Innovation.[3]

Career

Mbalula was appointed chairperson of the National Youth Commission in 2000.[4] He was reappointed to the role in 2003.[5] He served in the position until 2006, when Nobulumko Nkondlo was appointed to succeed him.[6]

By 2010, Mbalula was serving as the spokesperson of the provincial health department in the Free State.[7]

In 2017, Mbalula was named South Africa's ambassador to Romania. He presented his credentials to Romanian President Klaus Iohannis on 21 November 2017.[8] He served in the position until the South African embassy in Bucharest was closed in September 2021.[9]

A 2022 investigative report into the illegal appointment of staffers at the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality following the 2021 local government elections identified Mbalula as an alleged ghost employee of the municipality, costing the municipality millions of rands in monthly salaries while never reporting for work.[10]

In February 2023, Mbalula was appointed as the provincial spokesperson of the African National Congress.[11]

Free State provincial government

Mbalula was ranked tenth on the ANC's candidate list for the 2024 Free State provincial election.[12] He was elected to the Free State Provincial Legislature as the ANC won 16 seats.[13] The newly elected premier Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae announced her executive council on 20 June 2024, which saw Mbalula appointed as the Member of the Executive Council responsible for Community Safety, Roads and Transport.[14][15] Following his appointment to the provincial government, the ghost employee allegations resurfaced, which Mbalula denounced and further said that an investigation conducted by the municipality revealed the actual ghost employees and he was not among the implicated.[16]

On 14 November 2025, Mbalula was sworn in as the acting premier of the Free State after Letsoha-Mathae announced that she would be taking a month-long sick leave.[17] On 15 December 2024, City Press reported that Mbalula was allegedly insolvent and under debt administration, which made him ineligible to be a member of the provincial legislature and acting premier.[18] The premier's office responded to these allegations by saying that Mbalula was vetted and cleared to be a member of the provincial legislature and that the publication of Mbalula's financial matters was a contravention of the Protection of Personal Information Act of 2013.[19][20]

Personal life

Mbalula is the older brother of Fikile Mbalula, a former cabinet minister and the current Secretary-General of the African National Congress.[10][15]

References

  1. ^ "Provincial Candidates List" (PDF). Electoral Commission of South Africa. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  2. ^ a b "Ambassador Jabu Mbalula, from UFS to Romania". www.ufs.ac.za. Retrieved 2025-07-04.
  3. ^ "The new MEC hits the ground running" (PDF). www.policeroadstransport.fs.gov.z. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  4. ^ "Western Cape Violence Against Children; National Youth Commission | PMG". pmg.org.za. Retrieved 2025-07-04.
  5. ^ "South Africa: Minister Welcomes New Youth Commission Commissioners". All Africa. 29 June 2003. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  6. ^ Phillip, Bulelani (6 July 2006). "South Africa: Nkondlo Makes History in Youth Commission". All Africa. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  7. ^ "Free State Development Partners Summit | South African Government". www.gov.za. Retrieved 2025-07-04.
  8. ^ "President of Romania, Mr. Klaus Iohannis, received foreign ambassadors for the presentation of their diplomatic credentials". President of Romania. 4 July 2025. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  9. ^ "South African Embassy, Bucharest Romania". dirco1.azurewebsites.net. Retrieved 2025-07-04.
  10. ^ a b Makhafola, Getrude (2022-05-04). "Oh, the irony! Mbalula's brother exposed as one of Mangaung's costly ghost workers". The Citizen. Retrieved 2025-07-04.
  11. ^ "Ghost worker-accused Mbalula's brother appointed ANC FS spin doctor". George Herald. Retrieved 2025-07-04.
  12. ^ "The ANC`s candidate lists for the 2024 elections - DOCUMENTS | Politicsweb". www.politicsweb.co.za. Retrieved 2025-07-04.
  13. ^ "2024 Elected Provincial Legislature Representatives" (PDF). Electoral Commission of South Africa. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  14. ^ "Premier Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae announces members of Free State Executive Council for 7th administration | South African Government". www.gov.za. Retrieved 2025-07-04.
  15. ^ a b Njilo, Nonkululeko (2024-06-21). "Fikile Mbalula's brother makes Free State cabinet; Mxolisi Dukwana left out in the cold". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 2025-07-04.
  16. ^ OFM. "Mbalula denies ghost worker allegations". OFM. Retrieved 2025-07-04.
  17. ^ Schrieber, Sinesipho (15 November 2024). "ANC says Jabu Mbalula not taking over from scandal-hit Letsoha-Mathae as Free State premier". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 4 July 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  18. ^ Mashego, Abram. "Acting FS Premier Jabu Mbalula's been blacklisted, so can't legally hold public office". News24. Retrieved 2025-07-04.
  19. ^ Mazibuko, Nomsa (16 December 2024). "FS Premier's office concerned about newspaper report". SABC News. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  20. ^ Gerber, Jan. "ActionSA demands answers over appointment of 'insolvent' Jabu Mbalula as acting Free State premier". News24. Retrieved 2025-07-04.
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