Mbali Frazer | |
---|---|
KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Education | |
In office 11 August 2022 – 14 June 2024 | |
Premier | Nomusa Dube-Ncube |
Preceded by | Kwazi Mshengu |
Succeeded by | Sipho Hlomuka |
Member of the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature | |
Assumed office 21 May 2014 | |
Personal details | |
Born | Mbalenhle Cleopatra Frazer |
Political party | African National Congress |
Profession | Educator, politician |
Mbalenhle Cleopatra Frazer, commonly known as Mbali Frazer, is a South African politician and former educator who was KwaZulu-Natal's Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Education from August 2022 until June 2024. She has served in the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature as an African National Congress MPL since 2014. Frazer was elected deputy provincial chairperson of the African National Congress Women's League in August 2023.
Frazer is a former teacher and trade unionist. In 2014, Frazer was elected to the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature on the ticket of the African National Congress. Frazer supported Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma's unsuccessful ANC presidential campaign in 2017.[1] She was re-elected to the provincial legislature in 2019 and then elected as the chairperson of the public works committee. When Dlamini-Zuma came under scrutiny during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, Frazer came to her defence.[1]
At the provincial African National Congress Women's League elective conference held from 4 to 7 August 2023, Frazer successfully contested the position of deputy provincial chairperson. She defeated Phumzile Mbatha-Cele for the position, winning with 649 votes to Mbatha-Cele's 545.[2]
Following the resignation of Sihle Zikalala as the premier of KwaZulu-Natal on 5 August 2022, Frazer, ANC MPL Amanda Mapena and Finance MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube were shortlisted by the provincial ANC as possible candidates to succeed Zikalala.[1] The premier's position ultimately went to Dube-Ncube.[3] Following Dube-Ncube's election and inauguration, she named her executive council on 11 August 2022. Frazer was appointed as the MEC for Education, succeeding Kwazi Mshengu.[4][5][6] Trade unions welcomed her appointment.[7]
Frazer was re-elected to her seat in the provincial legislature in the 2024 provincial election, however, she was not reappointed to the Executive Council.[8]