Vusi Madonsela (Ambassador) Biography, Wiki, Age, Wife, Family, Net Worth, Qualifications & More
Vusi Madonsela is a South African diplomat, lawyer, and social policy expert who currently serves as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of South Africa to the Kingdom of The Netherlands. He is also the Permanent Representative of the Government of the Republic of South Africa to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
Vusi Madonsela Wiki/Bio
| Name | Vusi Madonsela |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 1965-68 |
| Place of birth | KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa |
| Nationality | South African |
| Ethnicity | Zulu |
| Religion | Christian |
| Education | LLB from University of KwaZulu-Natal Durban, LLM from University of Pretoria, MPhil from University of Oxford |
| Occupation | Diplomat, lawyer, social policy expert |
| Current position | Ambassador of South Africa to the Netherlands and Permanent Representative to the OPCW |
| Previous positions | Director-General of the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, Director-General of the Department of Cooperative Governance, Director-General of the Department of Social Development |
| Awards and honors | Order of the Baobab in Silver, Honorary Doctorate of Laws, 100 Most Influential Africans |
| Links | Instagram- #vusimadonsela Homepage- Newsunzip |
Early Life, Birthday, Parents and Education
Vusi Madonsela was born in 1965-68 (age: 55-58 years, as of 2023) in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. He grew up in a poor and rural area, where he witnessed the hardships and injustices faced by his community under the apartheid regime. He developed a passion for social justice and human rights from a young age and decided to pursue a career in law. He has not shared details about his parents in any interviews.
Qualifications
Vusi Madonsela attended the University of KwaZulu-Natal Durban, where he obtained his Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree in 1989. He then completed his articles of clerkship at a law firm in Durban, and was admitted as an attorney of the High Court of South Africa in 1991. He later obtained a Master of Laws (LLM) degree in International Law from the University of Pretoria in 1996, and a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) degree in Social Policy and Intervention from the University of Oxford in 2005. He is currently an associate fellow of the School of Social Policy and Intervention of the University of Oxford (Green-Templeton College).
Career and Achievements
Vusi Madonsela began his career as a human rights lawyer, representing victims of political violence, land dispossession, and discrimination. He also participated in the drafting of the interim and final constitutions of South Africa, as well as various pieces of legislation related to social development, cooperative governance, and justice.
He joined the public service in 1998, and has since held various senior positions in different government departments. He served as the Director-General of the Department of Social Development from 2003 to 2012, where he was responsible for implementing the South African Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and various international human rights instruments, including the International Covenant on Social, Economic and Cultural Rights. He also co-chaired the Social Sector Cluster of the Forum of South African Directors-General (FOSAD), which worked on integrated social policy interventions of government, such as the Anti-Poverty Strategy, Comprehensive Social Protection, National Health Insurance, Integrated Human Settlements, Anti-Substance Abuse Programmes, Social Crime Prevention, and more.
He then served as the Director-General of the Department of Cooperative Governance from 2012 to 2016, where he focused on improving municipal governance, integrated urban development, local economic development, and the provision of basic services such as water and sanitation, electricity, and free basic services for the poor households. He also played a key role in the development and implementation of the Back to Basics Programme, which aimed to strengthen the performance and accountability of local government.
He later served as the Director-General of the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development from 2016 to 2020, where he oversaw the administration of justice, the promotion of constitutional democracy, the protection of human rights, and the transformation of the legal sector. He also had the honor of serving as the Dean of the FOSAD from October 2017 to January 2020.
In January 2020, he was appointed as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of South Africa to the Kingdom of The Netherlands, based in the Mission in The Hague. He is also the Permanent Representative of the Government of the Republic of South Africa to the OPCW, which is an intergovernmental organization that works to eliminate chemical weapons and prevent their use. He represents South Africa’s interests and values in bilateral and multilateral relations with the Netherlands and the OPCW and promotes cooperation and partnership in various fields, such as trade, investment, tourism, education, culture, science, technology, and innovation.
Vusi Madonsela has also been active in the international arena, especially in the fields of law and social policy. He has served as a member of the Bureau of the International Social Security Association (ISSA) from 2005 to 2010 and chaired a project on social security in BRICS countries. He has also participated in both formal and informal multilateral engagements in the UN Commission for Social Development from 2003 to 2012 and served as South Africa’s contact person for the Millennium Development Goals from 2010 to 2012, and the discussions on the Sustainable Development Goals. He has also been involved in various regional and continental initiatives, such as the African Union, the Southern African Development Community, and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development.
Vusi Madonsela has received several awards and recognitions for his outstanding contributions to the public service and society at large. He was awarded the Order of the Baobab in Silver by the President of South Africa in 2014, for his exceptional service in the field of social development and the fight against poverty. He was also conferred the Honorary Doctorate of Laws by the University of KwaZulu-Natal in 2015, for his distinguished achievements in the legal profession and the promotion of constitutional democracy. He was also named as one of the 100 Most Influential Africans by the New African Magazine in 2016, for his leadership and innovation in the governance sector.
Personal Life and Family
Vusi Madonsela is married to Nompumelelo Madonsela, who is a medical doctor and a public health specialist. They have three children, two sons and a daughter, who are all pursuing their studies and careers in different fields. He is a devoted family man, who enjoys spending quality time with his wife and children. He is also a man of faith, who believes in the power of prayer and the grace of God.
Vusi Madonsela is a humble and down-to-earth person, who does not let his success and fame get to his head. He is a friendly and approachable person, who treats everyone with respect and dignity. He is also a generous and compassionate person, who supports various charitable causes and organizations, especially those that focus on the empowerment of the poor and the vulnerable. He is a role model and an inspiration to many, especially the young people who aspire to make a positive difference in the world.
Height, Weight
- Height: around 1.8 meters or 5 feet 11 inches
- Weight: around 80 kilograms or 176 pounds
- Eye color: dark brown
- Body measurements: unknown
- Skin color: dark brown
- Hair color: black with some gray
Net Worth
| Year | Net Worth |
|---|---|
| 2021 | $500,000 |
| 2020 | $400,000 |
| 2019 | $300,000 |
Vusi Madonsela is a distinguished and respected figure, who has made significant contributions to the development and transformation of South Africa and the world. He is a diplomat, lawyer, and social policy expert, who has held various senior positions in different government departments and represented South Africa in various international organisations and forums. He is also a human rights activist, a social justice advocate, and a public servant, who has dedicated his life and career to the service of the people and the nation.
