Fikile Mbalula qualifications: [No] Matric to minister?

There’s no doubt that ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula plays a key role in the GNU government and within the political party. But what academic qualifications does he have for the integral role? 

The former minister of sport, transport, and police has again made headlines over his claims that cabinet members have had their perks cut by a strict budget.

Despite this, “Bra Fiks” is known for his lavish lifestyle.

FIKILE MBALULA: WHAT ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS DOES HE HAVE?

According to his official government biography, Fikile Mbalula – who  hails from Botshabelo in Bloemfontein – has training in “Leadership Skills by the Careers Research and Information Centre, and as a Councillor by the Organisation for Appropriate Social Services in South Africa in psychotherapy.”

The biography does not mention his high school studies or his Matric pass, and neither does the ANC stalwart.

A year ago, the African Congress for Transformation accused Fikile Mbalula of being the “most incompetent secretary-general in the history of the ANC.” This comes after former ANC stalwart Mavuso Msimang criticised Fikile as being “an embarrassment” to the party.

In a media statement, ACT questioned if Fikile was in possession of a Matric Certificate. It also challenged him “to publicly disclose it as a means of substantiating his credentials.”

It continued: “This is the same Fikile Mbalula who depends on his office staff to read and interpret the content of documents and newspapers for him every morning due to his deficiency in rational, cognitive, and intellectual capacities to independently examine and comprehend information. 

“This is the same Fikile Mbalula who possesses limited ability to compose a paragraph in a memo and depends on his staff to generate reports on his behalf. 

It continued: “This is the same Fikile Mbalula who possesses limited proficiency in operating a laptop, yet he holds the position of CEO of the governing party. This is the same Fikile Mbalula who struggles to articulate a meaningful phrase or string a cogent sentence without resorting to humour as a means of diverting the attention of journalists”.

MINISTERS WITHOUT DEGREES

Fikile Mbalula wouldn’t be the only high-ranking cabinet official without academic qualifications.

Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen and Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie also lack degrees.

Ironically, Fikile claimed last year that ANC MPs are required to have a post-matric qualification.

During a press conference in Luthuli House, he said, “[Some] people don’t have matric necessarily. But they do have a qualification by virtue of prior learning. And as a result, they went on to study and get degrees.

“Others don’t have qualifications [and] we will cross that [bridge] when we get there. But the majority of people, if you peruse the ANC list, have got qualifications to serve in the legislatures.

He continued: “This time around, the bar has been set higher, in that qualifications is a key consideration in terms of the criteria.

“Obviously, you can have matric, but it must count for other things and that you have improved yourself beyond matric to get a qualification.”

DO YOU BELIEVE FIKILE MBALULA HAS ANY ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS?

Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1.

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