Witness to Power

Dr Nakedi Mathews Phosa was born in Mbombela township, Nelspruit, but grew up in a rural area near Potgietersrus (Mokopane). After studying law at the University of the North, he opened the first black-owned legal practice in Nelspruit in 1981. He became involved in underground ANC activities, and in 1985 he was forced into exile. After being trained in East Germany, he became the regional commander of uMkhonto weSizwe in Mozambique. Following the unbanning of the ANC in 1990, he was one of the first members of the ANC to return to South Africa to prepare for negotiations with the National Party government. He played an important role in transition initiatives, including CODESA, and headed the ANC’s legal department. After the 1994 elections, Phosa was appointed premier of Mpumalanga, a position he held until 1999. He was a member of the ANC’s National Executive Committee and was the party’s treasurer-general from 2007 to 2012. Phosa speaks nine languages and has published two volumes of poetry: Deur die oog van ’n naald (Through the eye of a needle) and Chants of Freedom.