
Menzi Mthwecu passed away in May 2005
His obituary can be found Here.
Menzi came to CIE in 1989 with a history of working on education of miners in the gold mines of South Africa, his home country. He used his time at CIE to pursue that interest further, analyzing the content of educational materials used in the gold mines for his Master’s project. He continued that interest by undertaking a case study of the adult basic education activities of the National Union of Miners in South Africa for his doctoral dissertation.
After graduating Menzi returned to South Africa and immediately became active in the Trade Union Movement there. His work focused on education and policy-making aimed at improving the lives of mineworkers. His work and leadership allowed him to break barriers in the predominantly white mining industry, making him one of the few black Africans to achieve prominence in this field.
His efforts led to the establishment of the Mining Qualifications Authority (MQA), where he served as the Chief Executive Officer. The MQA is a Sector Education & Training Authority (SETA) for the Mining and Minerals Industry, focusing on human resource development through learner-ships and skills programs. Menzi’s work included addressing the needs of women in the mining sector, displaying his commitment to inclusivity and workforce development. [6-05]