Thembi Simelane

Thembi Simelane
Minister of Human Settlements
Assumed office
3 December 2024
PresidentCyril Ramaphosa
Preceded byMmamoloko Kubayi
Member of the National Assembly
Assumed office
14 June 2024
Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development
In office
3 July 2024  3 December 2024
PresidentCyril Ramaphosa
DeputyAndries Nel
Preceded byRonald Lamola
Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
In office
7 March 2023  19 June 2024
PresidentCyril Ramaphosa
DeputyParks Tau
Zolile Burns-Ncamashe
Preceded byNkosazana Dlamini-Zuma
Succeeded byVelenkosi Hlabisa
Deputy Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
In office
10 August 2021  6 March 2023
Serving with Obed Bapela
PresidentCyril Ramaphosa
MinisterNkosazana Dlamini-Zuma
Preceded byParks Tau
Succeeded byParks Tau
Mayor of Polokwane
In office
July 2014  August 2021
Preceded byFreddy Greaver
Succeeded byJohn Mpe
Personal details
Born
Thembisile Phumelele Simelane

(1973-02-10) 10 February 1973
Bethal, Eastern Transvaal
South Africa
Political partyAfrican National Congress
Spouse
Chipyane Nkadimeng
(div. 2019)
RelationsNokuthula Simelane (sister)
Alma materUniversity of the North
Stellenbosch University

Thembisile Phumelele Simelane-Nkadimeng (born 10 February 1973) is a South African politician who is currently serving as the Minister of Human Settlements since December 2024. A member of the African National Congress (ANC), she was previously the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs between March 2023 and June 2024 and the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development between June 2024 and December 2024.

Formerly a student activist at Turfloop, Nkadimeng began her career as a public servant and entered professional politics in July 2014 as Mayor of Polokwane. In the last years of her mayoral term, she was additionally the president of the South African Local Government Association from 2019 to 2021. She joined the national government in August 2021, when President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed her as Deputy Minister Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.

Pursuant to the ANC's 55th National Conference in December 2022, Nkadimeng was elected to five-year terms on the party's National Executive Committee and National Working Committee. Ramaphosa promoted her to his cabinet in the aftermath of the conference, and she was appointed Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development after the May 2024 general election. She was reshuffled to Minister of Human Settlements in December 2024.