Thuthukile Zuma

Thuthukile Zuma is the chief of staff in the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services and youngest of South African president Jacob Zuma's four daughters with ex-wife Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. She is known for being the youngest head of a minister’s office ever appointed in South Africa. Her appointment was criticised for due to her young age, alleged lack of experience for the position, and close personal relationship with the president.^[1][2]

Zuma graduated from Westerford High School in December 2006 and went on to complete a degree in anthropology in 2012 from the University of Witwatersrand. In 2011 she volunteered at the headquarters of the African National Congress (ANC) and went on to join the State Security Agency for less than a year.^[1]

Following the 2014 national elections she was moved from the State Security Agency and appointed chief of staff for the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services with a salary of almost R1 million a year^[1] (or US$95,091).^[3] It was reported that the position was never advertised as is the norm in South Africa.^[1]

In reply to criticism of her appointment the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services stated that: “The minister only considered her capacity to do the job and her qualifications. Her genealogy was never a consideration.”^[4]

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