Staff Contact Details

Siphiwe F. Mkhize BSc, MSc, M Phil (Applied Ethics), PhD

Minister: Agriculture

Dr Siphiwe F Mkhize was named Minister (Agriculture) with the responsibilities at the Embassies of South Africa in Canada, Cuba, Mexico and the United States of America by the Minister for Agriculture and Land Affairs, Ms AT Didiza, in September 2001.

Mkhize has an extensive public and private experience in the field of agronomy, natural resource management and international relations. Most recently he was the Director of International Relations at the Department of Agriculture, in Pretoria, South Africa. During this time he was responsible for managing and coordinating all foreign agricultural engagements of the Department of Agriculture. His tenure as a senior manager in the Department of Agriculture stared in 1999 when he was appointed the Director: Ministerial Services at the Office of the Minister for Agriculture and Land Affairs, a position he held until December 2000. Mkhize’s government and international experience includes services as Assistant Director and Deputy Director: Multilateral Relations at the Department of Agriculture during the Mandela Administration.  Before joining the government, Mkhize coordinated the Catholic Archdiocese of Durban Development Fund, he also advised the Catholic Church in KwaZulu Natal on issues of Land, Agriculture and Development. Mkhize worked as a Senior Research Fellow (Extension Agronomist) with the University of Natal, Farmer Support Group from 1990 to 1993.  During the historic elections of 1994, Mkhize served as a District Electoral Officer for the Pinetown District (Durban Metro Outer West) a position that gave him a privileged to work closely with all political parties of South Africa, especially the ANC, IFP, DP and NP.

A native of Pietermaritzburg in KwaZulu Natal, Mkhize holds a BSc degree in Agronomy from Iowa State University, a MSc degree in soil chemistry and fertility from the University of Reading in England, also a Master of Philosophy degree in Environmental Ethics from the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa and a PhD in sustainable ecological management from the University of Pretoria in South Africa. Mkhize is registered as a Professional Natural Scientist (Pr Sci Nat.), with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions, in South Africa.