Career
He previously served as head of South Africa"s Government Communication and Information Systems (GCIS) from 1998 to 2006. As a key political strategist for South African President Thabo Mbeki, Netshitenzhe is considered one of the country"s most powerful political players. As head of the GCIS, his role is effectively to head up the president"s policy unit
Netshitenzhe was at one stage considered as a possible contender in the country"s forthcoming presidential elections due to his close working relationship with Mbeki.
He has, however, retained his place on the party"s influential National Executive Committee, where he is on the economic transformation and political education subcommittees.
