1. Obed Thembinkosi Mlaba was born on 9 September 1943 and is the former High Commissioner of South Africa to the United Kingdom and served as mayor of Durban, one of the largest and most commercially active cities in South Africa.
11 Facts About Obed Mlaba
1. 2.
Mlaba was born near Estcourt, KwaZulu-Natal to Japhet and Garlina Mlaba and was one of three children and the only boy.
3.
Obed Mlaba grew up in the apartheid era and the events of that period heavily influenced his views and expectations.
4.
Obed Mlaba developed keen political awareness and became a member of the African National Congress, ANC when it was unbanned in 1990.
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Obed Mlaba started as social worker in a government department before moving into the private sector where he has held positions that include personnel officer, industrial relations specialist as well as senior managerial positions in business development.
6.
Obed Mlaba was elected the first mayor of Durban or as it is known in South Africa, Ethekwini Metropolitan Municipality in 1996 after the transition to multiparty democracy.
7.
Obed Mlaba was the mayor who oversaw the infrastructural development geared towards the staging of 2010 FIFA world cup competition.
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Obed Mlaba had a bias towards business and economic development and encouraged and lured investors to Durban and supported the development of local business and entrepreneurs.
9.
In February 2014, Obed Mlaba was appointed High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.
10.
Obed Mlaba strongly believes that the two countries have much to offer each other and that the history that binds them should be exploited to their mutual benefit.
11.
Obed Mlaba is married to Nomfundo Audrey, a former nurse and they have seven children and 11 grandchildren.