19 Facts About Charles Nqakula

1.

Charles Nqakula was born on 13 September 1942 and is a South African politician who served as Minister of Defence from September 2008 to 2009.

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2.

Charles Nqakula served as Minister for Safety and Security from May 2002 to September 2008.

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3.

Charles Nqakula attended primary school at Cradock and secondary school at Lovedale, matriculating in 1963.

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4.

Charles Nqakula worked as a hotel waiter and wine steward, after which he became a clerk in the Department of Bantu Education.

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5.

In 1966, Charles Nqakula started as a journalist with the Midland News, a regional weekly newspaper in Cradock.

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6.

Charles Nqakula was unbanned the following year but, because his village had been redesignated as part of the Ciskei independent homeland, he was unable to re-enter South African territory and was declared a prohibited immigrant.

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7.

Charles Nqakula became a member of the Union of Black Journalists and was elected vice-president of the union in 1976.

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8.

Charles Nqakula was elected publicity secretary of the fledgling United Democratic Front in 1983, and was arrested the same year in East London for being in South Africa without a visa.

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9.

Charles Nqakula left South Africa in 1984 travelling to Lesotho, Tanzania and Zambia.

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10.

Charles Nqakula underwent military training in Angola and joined MK the armed wing of the ANC.

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11.

Charles Nqakula travelled to the Soviet Union and East Germany for further military training.

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12.

Charles Nqakula infiltrated South Africa on his return as one of the commanders of Operation Vula, with a mission to build viable underground and military structures.

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13.

Charles Nqakula served on the interim leadership group of the SACP, as convenor of its National Organising Committee.

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14.

Charles Nqakula was a member of its Political Committee and served on the SACP Secretariat.

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15.

Charles Nqakula was elected SACP Deputy Secretary-General in 1991 and became Secretary-General following the assassination of Chris Hani in April 1993.

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16.

Charles Nqakula later served as Parliamentary Counsellor to the President.

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17.

On 24 January 2001 Charles Nqakula was appointed as Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, becoming Minister of Safety and Security on 7 May 2002.

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18.

Charles Nqakula failed to realise the consequence of his statement, as many people around the world were making travel arrangements for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

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19.

Charles Nqakula was again criticized while he was in Burundi, promoting peace and democracy, while there was a spate of violent crime in Gauteng.

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