Mathews Phosa

Nakedi Mathews Phosa (born 1 September 1952) is a South African attorney and politician and was also an anti-apartheid activist. He is a former premier of Mpumalanga as well as a member of the National Executive Committee of the African National Congress (ANC). Phosa ran for President of the ANC in 2017 lost to Cyril Ramaphosa. Early life and education Phosa was born in Mbombela township, Nelspruit. However, he grew up with his grandfather in a rural area near Potgietersrus (Mokopane). He matriculated at Orhovelani High School in Thulamahashe, Bushbuckridge. Political career He was one of the first four members of the ANC to enter South Africa from exile in 1990 in order to start the process of negotiation with the National Party government. As a result of the first fully inclusive democratic elections in 1994, Phosa was appointed as the first premier of Mpumalanga, a position which he held until 1999. During his time in office, Phosa pioneered planning interaction between the private sector and government. He also spearheaded Nelson Mandela's reconciliation initiatives between the government and the Afrikaans speaking community. Phosa was elected as a member of the National Executive Committee of the ANC in 1999.