Nathi Mthethwa

Nathi Mthethwa
Mthethwa (right) in September 2018
Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture
In office 30 May 2019 – 6 March 2023
President	Cyril Ramaphosa
Deputy	Nocawe Mafu
Preceded by	Portfolio established
Succeeded by	Zizi Kodwa
Minister of Arts and Culture
In office 25 May 2014 – 30 May 2019
President	Jacob Zuma Cyril Ramaphosa
Deputy	Rejoice Mabudafhasi Maggie Sotyu
Preceded by	Paul Mashatile
Succeeded by	Himself (for Sports, Arts and Culture)
Minister of Police
In office 10 May 2009 – 25 May 2014
President	Jacob Zuma
Deputy	Fikile Mbalula Maggie Sotyu
Preceded by	Himself (for Safety and Security)
Succeeded by	Nkosinathi Nhleko
Minister of Safety and Security
In office 25 September 2008 – 10 May 2009
President	Kgalema Motlanthe
Deputy	Susan Shabangu
Preceded by	Charles Nqakula
Succeeded by	Himself (for Police)
Chief Whip of the Majority Party
In office 23 January 2008 – 25 September 2008
President	Thabo Mbeki
Preceded by	Isaac Mogase
Succeeded by	Mnyamezeli Booi
Personal details
Born	Emmanuel Nkosinathi Mthethwa (1967-01-23) 23 January 1967 (age 58) Clermont, Natal Province South Africa
Political party	African National Congress
Spouse	Philisiwe Buthelezi ​ (m. 2013)​
Profession	Politician

Emmanuel Nkosinathi Mthethwa (born 23 January 1967) is a South African politician who is currently serving as South African Ambassador to France. He represented the African National Congress (ANC) in the National Assembly of South Africa between 2002 and 2023, and he was a cabinet minister between September 2008 and March 2023.

Born in KwaZulu-Natal, Mthethwa rose to prominence in the ANC Youth League and joined the National Assembly in 2002. Pursuant to the ANC's 52nd National Conference in December 2007, he was elected to the ANC's National Executive Committee and National Working Committee, on which he served continuously until December 2022. In the aftermath of the 52nd National Conference, in January 2008, the ANC installed him as Chief Whip of the Majority Party in the National Assembly. He held that position until he ascended to the cabinet in September 2008.

Appointed by President Kgalema Motlanthe as Minister of Safety and Security, he continued in the same office, later renamed Minister of Police, in the first-term cabinet of President Jacob Zuma. During his tenure in the police portfolio from 2008 to 2014, Mthethwa's ministry had played a controversial role in the Marikana massacre and Nkandlagate controversy. He became Minister of Arts and Culture in May 2014 and Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture in May 2019, but he dropped off the ANC's National Executive Committee at the party's 55th National Conference in December 2022 and President Cyril Ramaphosa sacked him from the cabinet in March 2023. He resigned from the National Assembly a week later.