Senzeni Zokwana is former Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of the Republic of South Africa, serving in this position from 2014 – 2019. Mr. Zokwana previously served as the president of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM).
He became involved in trade union activism in 1980 during the apartheid-era in South Africa at the President Steyn gold mine in the Free State. He joined the ranks of NUM in 1983, became a shaft steward in 1984 and was elected to the branch executive committee in the President Steyn Mine in 1985. He subsequently moved up the ranks to become branch chairperson in 1987, vice regional chairperson in 1992 and regional chairperson from 1993 to 1994.
Mr. Zokwana was elected as vice president of NUM in 1994; a position he held until 2000 when he was elected president. He was subsequently, re-elected for the role and held the position until he was appointed as Minister by President Jacob Zuma.