Ruth Bhengu

**Nozabelo Ruth Bhengu** (born 24 May 1952), wey people before know as **Ruth Ntshulana-Bhengu**, be South African politician plus businesswoman wey represent de African National Congress (ANC) insyd de National Assembly till 2019. She be former president of de South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) den she be member of de ANC demma National Executive Committee from 2007 go reach 2022. 

Bhengu ein first time for Parliament start for June 1999 go reach August 2005, den she comot afta dem convict am say she defraud Parliament insyd de Travelgate wahala. Inside dat time, she become popular sake of one 2001 speech wey she talk for Parliament say her daughter, Nozipho Bhengu, get HIV. Afta she comot Parliament, she serve as deputy mayor for Ugu District Municipality from 2006 till 2009. Before dat, she be SANCO demma deputy president, den dem elect am as president for de organisation inside December 2008.

She return Parliament again for 2009 as big-time supporter of President Jacob Zuma wey dem just elect. She serve two terms back-to-back before she no fit get re-election for de 2019 general election.

## Early life den activism
Dem born Bhengu on 24 May 1952 for Pietermaritzburg wey dey insyd old Natal province (wey later turn KwaZulu-Natal). She be Zulu woman. According to wetin Bhengu talk, she start get interest for politics when she dey high school, all because of de apartheid Bantu Education system plus how dem take handle language matter for school.

She learn community development from one trade union, den she begin dey do plenty community organising and activism work. She join one residents' association wey later become part of de South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO). One ANC member recruit her insyd 1987. She start Third World Shops wey dey support de anti-apartheid movement, plus she launch one development consultancy insyd 1995.

## Political career

### National Assembly: 1999–2005
Bhengu first enter National Assembly insyd 1999 general election, den she take chair de Portfolio Committee on Sport and Recreation throughout dat legislative term. She get re-election for second term insyd 2004 general election, dis time around she represent KwaZulu-Natal constituency, and dem reappoint her to de same chairmanship at first. But for June 2004, ANC shuffle dem parliamentary caucus, den Bhengu swap position with Yunus Carrim — she come turn chairperson for de Portfolio Committee on Provincial and Local Government.

#### HIV/AIDS activism
Insyd May 2001, during de time wey HIV/AIDS trouble plenty for South Africa, Bhengu gain national attention when she talk for Parliament say her daughter, Nozipho Bhengu, test positive for HIV insyd 1998. People for Parliament stand clap for her, praise her say she dey fight against de stigma wey follow HIV. She later talk say she make dat disclosure with her daughter ein permission, because she dey vex how her fellow MPs dey handle HIV matter like say e no concern dem personally.

For ein powerful speech, Bhengu beg de Speaker make dem set up counselling services for MPs wey HIV/AIDS touch. Later she talk say government suppose start compulsory HIV testing for everybody wey dey sexually active. But Nozipho no take anti-retroviral medicine; she follow de natural diet method wey Tine van der Maas plus Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang dey support, and dat be de same line President Thabo Mbeki ein government dey go. When Nozipho die from AIDS matter insyd 2006, de Treatment Action Campaign talk say anti-retrovirals fit save her. Bhengu ein family spokesman, Mtholephi Mthimkhulu, bash dem say de comment dey heartless and dem just dey chase politics. Nozipho ein book, *Against the Wall*, come out after she die insyd 2008, plus one chapter wey Bhengu write.

#### Travelgate
Bhengu be one of de ANC MPs wey face criminal wahala sake of how dem use parliamentary travel vouchers anyhow for de Travelgate palava. For April 2004, she agree make dem do plea bargain, den she plead guilty say she cheat Parliament for service benefits wey reach R43,000. Dem sentence her make she pay fine of R45,000 or go serve two years for prison. Plus, dem put one extra three-year prison sentence wey dem suspend for five years. Insyd June 2005, ANC talk say Bhengu plus four other people go step down from Parliament because of how dem involve for de scandal. She officially comot her seat for 1 August 2005, den Shakes Cele replace her.

### Ugu Municipality: 2006–2009
Before de 2006 local elections reach, Bhengu take first position for ANC party list wey go elect people wey go be councillors for Ugu District Municipality for KwaZulu-Natal — dis make people see say she fit be de next mayor. But her nomination cause wahala because of her Travelgate conviction. De opposition party, Democratic Alliance, talk say e show say ANC "dey support corruption" and "no dey respect de voters for local government", den dem call make she withdraw. ANC KwaZulu-Natal branch defend her, say Bhengu "show remorse" and say "ANC dey give her another chance to serve de people of dis country". De ANC provincial secretary, Senzo Mchunu, talk say, "Anybody wey believe say dem no sin before, dem fit throw stone give Ntshulana-Bhengu." Bhengu talk say people dey judge her unfairly, and say other people like Hansie Cronje, Phillip Powell, and Brian Mitchell still fit come back to public life after wetin dem do:Bhengu talk say if people still dey call her fraudster even though she don apologise and serve her punishment, but dem no dey call Hansie Cronje, Brian Mitchell or Phillip Powell de same, then e mean say dem people be racists. She ask, “How many times I go apologise, and how my apology different from de ones wey Cronje, Mitchell and Powell give?”She be elected to an ANC seat insyd de Ugu council den became deputy mayor, deputising Sithembiso Cele.

#### Rise insyd de ANC den SANCO
By de time she join local government, Bhengu don serve for ANC regional executive for Pietermaritzburg. People dey see her as strong supporter and "lieutenant" for Zweli Mkhize, wey be ANC provincial chairperson for KwaZulu-Natal. She also hold top national position for SANCO as deputy president under Mlungisi Hlongwane. For 2006, she act as SANCO president while Hlongwane dey suspension.

For all dem roles, she show say she dey support former Deputy President Jacob Zuma, wey that time dey campaign to take over from President Mbeki as ANC president. For July 2006, Bhengu vex say dem dey charge Zuma with corruption, she tell Scorpions say “make dem leave Msholozi [Zuma] alone so that he go fit lead de people.” Later on, she dey among ANC members wey show face for Zuma ein court rallies.

For ANC demma 52nd National Conference wey happen insyd December 2007, dem elect Zuma as ANC president. For dat same conference, Bhengu get nomination make she contest for position insyd ANC National Executive Committee (NEC); e look like say Zuma ein people support her bid. She win election, and by how plenty votes she get, she be 39th most popular among de 80 ordinary members wey dem elect. Then insyd December 2008, Bhengu also win election as SANCO demma national president after Hlongwane resign from ANC; she beat Richard Mdakane, get 792 votes while Mdakane get 510.

### Return to Parliament: 2009–2019

#### Transport Chairperson: 2009–2014
Before de 2009 general election wey Zuma contest and win as ANC presidential candidate, Bhengu dey insyd ANC party list to enter National Assembly, even though Democratic Alliance complain again. After de election, she return Parliament and dem nominate her make she chair de Portfolio Committee on Transport. 

Ein time as chairperson begin get wahala early 2012, when *Sowetan* report say Bhengu ein company, Riblore 22 cc, dey talk with South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) about selling oil give minibus taxi drivers. Press begin yan say e fit get conflict of interest because Bhengu ein committee dey regulate de taxi sector and also dey oversee Department of Transport — wey dey support SANTACO with funds. Dis report make Parliament ein ethics committee start investigation. By August 2012, dem talk say Bhengu no break any code of conduct, but dem still refer de possible conflict matter go de Speaker ein office.

Throughout dat legislative time, Bhengu still hold her position as SANCO president. For December 2012, she win re-election enter ANC National Executive Committee (NEC), and she rank number eight among de 80 people wey dem elect. After she win, NEC appoint her as their official rep wey go represent dem insyd ANC demma Limpopo branch.

#### Small Businesses Chairperson: 2014–2019
Insyd 2014 general election, Bhengu dey in comfy position for ANC party list — she rank number 46 — den after de vote, dem make her chairperson for Portfolio Committee on Small Business Development. Later, insyd December 2017, she secure third term inside ANC National Executive Committee (NEC), come rank 45th among de 80 people wey dem elect.

But before de 2019 general election, *The Witness* talk say ANC "overlook" Bhengu for dem party list — she drop go number 175 wey almost no dey reach electable level. On top dat, for May 2019, ANC demma Integrity Commission add her name join 23 other candidates wey dem say make dem re-check based on mismanagement or corruption wahala. Electoral Commission of South Africa even talk say people send official objection against her candidacy before.

## Later career
Afta Bhengu no fit win re-election for 2019, she focus full-time on her business work. She show support for Zweli Mkhize ein campaign wey no succeed, as Mkhize try contest for ANC president ahead of de party demma 55th National Conference wey happen insyd December 2022. But for dat same conference, Bhengu no get re-election into ANC National Executive Committee (NEC).

## Ein life matter
Bhengu get kiddies wey na insyd 2005 she say she be a single mommie.

## References


## External links
* Ms Nozabelo Ruth Bhengu at People's Assembly