Thabo Mbeki is a South African politician who served as the second president of South Africa from 1999 to 2008. He was also the leader of the African National Congress (ANC), the party that fought against apartheid and led the country’s transition to democracy. He is known for his role in the negotiations that ended apartheid, his economic policies, and his controversial views on HIV/AIDS.
In this blog post, I will walk you through Thabo Mbeki Biography, education, career, net worth, family and more. Without further ado, let’s get started.
Thabo Mbeki Early Life and Education
Thabo Mbeki was born on June 18, 1942 (81 years old as of 2023) in Mbewuleni, a small village in the former homeland of Transkei, now part of the Eastern Cape. He is the second of four siblings, with one sister, Linda, and two brothers, Moeletsi and Jama.
His parents were Govan Mbeki and Epainette Mbeki, both teachers and anti-apartheid activists.
He became politically active at the age of 14 when he joined the ANC Youth League. He attended schools in Transkei, including the well-known Lovedale secondary school in Alice, but he was expelled in 1959 for leading a student strike.
Thabo Mbeki continued his studies at home and remained active in the ANC after it was banned in South Africa in 1960.
He later left South Africa illegally in 1962 and enrolled at the University of Sussex in Brighton, England, where he graduated with an M.A. in economics in 1966.
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Thabo Mbeki Career
Thabo Mbeki had a long and distinguished career as a politician and leader of the African National Congress (ANC). He joined the ANC Youth League in 1956 and became politically active against apartheid.
He worked for the ANC in various countries and became a close aide to Oliver Tambo, the ANC president in exile. He played a key role in the negotiations that led to the end of apartheid and the first democratic elections in 1994.
Thabo Mbeki also served as the deputy president of South Africa under Nelson Mandela from 1994 to 1999.
He later became the president of South Africa in 1999 and was re-elected in 2004. Though, he resigned as president in 2008 after losing the support of his party.
Thabo Mbeki Personal Life, Wife And Children
Thabo Mbeki married Zanele Dlamini Mbeki in 1974 at Farnham Castle in the United Kingdom. They have no children together.
Though, he has a son, Monwabisi Kwanda Mbeki, from a previous relationship with Olive Mpahlwa. He paid a penalty of five cattle for making her pregnant when she was underage.
His son and his youngest brother, Jama Mbeki, disappeared in 1981 and are believed to have been killed by the apartheid regime.
He is a devout Christian and a member of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa. He enjoys reading, writing, and playing chess in his spare time.
Thabo Mbeki Net Worth
Thabo Mbeki’s net worth is estimated to be around $11 million, which is equivalent to about R177.5 million based on the current exchange rate. He is one of the richest politicians in South Africa, and he accumulated his wealth from his long and successful political career as the leader of the ANC and the president of South Africa. He also has various investments and businesses in different sectors, such as mining, telecommunications, and finance.
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