13 Facts About Sibongiseni Dhlomo

Sibongiseni Dhlomo was born on 10 December 1959 and is a South African politician and medical doctor for the African National Congress.

Sibongiseni Dhlomo was born in Umbumbulu in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal.

Sibongiseni Dhlomo attended Dlangezwa High School on an Illovo Sugar Mill bursary, where he met his wife, Nono MaDlamini.

Sibongiseni Dhlomo studied medicine at the University of Natal from 1980 to 1985, and later achieved a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of South Africa while incarcerated at Robben Island, majoring in psychology and sociology, and attained master's degree in public health from MEDUNSA.

Sibongiseni Dhlomo served in the South African National Defence Force, where he was bestowed a rank of a brigadier general.

Sibongiseni Dhlomo was the deputy city manager responsible for health and social services in the eThekwini Metro Municipality.

Sibongiseni Dhlomo was a chairperson of the eThekwini ANC Region and a regional treasurer of Emalahleni ANC Region for two terms.

Sibongiseni Dhlomo became provincial executive member in KwaZulu-Natal and became the MEC of health in 2009, and faced such criticism for his handling of the portfolio throughout his term that the Health and Other Service Personnel Trade Union of South Africa wanted Sibongiseni Dhlomo to be sacked for presiding "over a department that is perpetually in a state of mismanagement and corruption".

In 2013, during the continuing contract dispute involving these allegations, Sibongiseni Dhlomo ordered payments to Tecmed to be halted.

Sibongiseni Dhlomo was accused of overseeing a "cancer crisis" in the province.

In May 2018, as a result of a complaint laid with the SAHRC by the opposition Democratic Alliance, Sibongiseni Dhlomo appeared before the commission to account for the province's poor healthcare and his role in violating the human rights of oncology patients at the Addington and Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospitals to have access to health care services.

Sibongiseni Dhlomo was the chairperson of the Parliamentary Health Portfolio Committee.

On 6 August 2021, after former Deputy Joe Phaahla was promoted to head the Department of Health, Sibongiseni Dhlomo took his place as Deputy Minister of Health.