Sibusiso Bengu

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Sibusiso Mandlenkosi Emmanuel Bengu (b 8 May 1934) is a prominent South African politician.

Bengu was born in Kranskop, KwaZulu-Natal and become a teacher in 1952. Sibusiso founded the Dlangezwa High School near Empangeni in 1969 and was principal until 1976. He completed a PhD in political sciences at the University of Geneva in 1974 and in 1977 he was appointed a professor at the University of Zululand. He served as Secretary-General of Inkatha Freedom Party but due to differences he clashed with Mangosuthu Buthelezi.

Sibusiso left South Africa in 1978 and served as secretary for research and social action for the Lutheran World Foundation. While he was abroad met and became friends with the Oliver Tambo, then acting President of the African National Congress, where the children of both the Thambo and Bengu families were educated while the ANC conducted its policy of Liberation before education in South Africa and in the process disrupting the education of thousands of children at the time. He returned in 1991 to become first black Vice-chancellor of a South African university, Fort Hare University. Sibusiso became Minister of Education in 1994 in South Africa for the new democratic government. He introduced the controversial Curriculum 2005 on 24 March 1997. Due to many calls for his resignation he was finally released from his post in 1999 and sent to Germany to become South Africa's ambassador.

He is married to Funeka and has four daughters and one son.

v • d • e Ministers of the Nelson Mandela Government Frederik Willem de Klerk / Thabo Mbeki (Deputy President) • Derek Hanekom (Agriculture and Land Affairs) • Ben Ngubane (Arts and Culture) • Jay Naidoo (Communications) • Sipo Mzimela (1994-1998) / Ben Skosana (1998-1999) (Correctional Services) • Joe Modise (Defence) • Sibusiso Bengu (Education) • Mohammed Valli Moosa (Environmental Affairs and Tourism) • Derek Keys (1994-1996) / Trevor Manuel (1996-1999) (Finance) • Alfred Nzo (Foreign Affairs) • Nkosazana Zuma (Health) • Mangosuthu Buthelezi (Home Affairs) • Joe Slovo (Housing and Welfare) • Ronnie Kasrils (Intelligence Services) • Dullah Omar (Justice and Constitutional Development) • Membathisi Mphumzi Shepherd Mdladlana (Labour) • Patience Sonjica (Minerals and Energy) • Sydney Mufamadi (Provincial and Local Government)• Stella Sigcau (Public Enterprises) • Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi (Public Service and Administration) • Thoko Didiza (Agriculture and Land Affairs) • Charles Nqakula (Safety and Security) • Mosibudi Mangena (Science and Technology) • Zola Skweyiya (Social Development) • Steve Tshwete (Sport and Recreation) • Gert Johannes Gerwel (The Presidency) • Trevor Manuel (1994-1996) / Alec Erwin (1996-1999) (Trade and Industry) • Mac Maharaj (Transport) • Kader Asmal (Water Affairs and Forestry) •