Sankie Mthembi-Mahanyele

Sankie Dolly Mthembi-Mahanyele (; born 23 March 1951), formerly known as Sankie Mthembi-Nkondo or Sankie Nkondo, is a South African politician, diplomat, and former anti-apartheid activist. She was the Minister of Housing from 1995 to 2003 and served as Deputy Secretary-General of the African National Congress (ANC) from 2002 to 2007.

Early life and activism Mthembi-Mahanyele was born on 23 March 1951 in Sophiatown in Johannesburg. She matriculated at Sekane-Ntoane High School in Soweto in 1970 and then attended the politically tumultuous University of the North, graduating with a bachelor's degree in 1976. During this period (and thereafter), she wrote literature under the pseudonym Rebecca Matlou. In 1999, she sued the Mail & Guardian for defamation, in connection to the newspaper's claim in December 1998 that Mthembi-Mahanyele had awarded a housing contract to a friend; the Supreme Court of Appeal ultimately agreed with the Johannesburg High Court that the report did not amount to defamation. In 2003, she won an award from United Nations Habitat for her work in the housing portfolio.

Later career Mthembi-Mahanyele's resignation from the cabinet followed her election as Deputy Secretary-General of the ANC at the party's 51st National Conference in December 2002. She served in that position until the 52nd National Conference in December 2007, when she did not stand for re-election. In later years, she served as chairman of South Africa's Central Energy Fund from February 2012 until her resignation in 2015. She was South Africa's Ambassador to Switzerland from 2018 until 2022, when she was appointed Ambassador to Spain.

Personal life While in exile, Mthembi-Mahanyele was married to Zinjiva Winston Nkondo and was known as Sankie Mthembi-Nkondo. Nkondo was also an ANC activist and writer (under the pseudonym Victor Matlou); They had one daughter, Nare, together.