Mpofu-Walsh is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Wits Institute for Social and Economic Research.
Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh (born 4 January 1989) is a South African author, academic, activist, and musician. He first published the book Democracy and Delusion: 10 Myths in South African Politics in 2017. It won the City Press Tafelberg Award.
The musician dropped his debut rap album, Democracy and Delusion. He criticized then-President Jacob Zuma for corruption using his song Mr President in 2013. He has written for the South African newspaper City Press on racism and corruption.
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| Background Information | |
| Full name: | Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh |
| Born: | 4 January 1989 (age 35 years old) |
| Place of birth: | Johannesburg |
| Parents: | Dali Mpofu (father) Theresa Oakley-Smith (mother) |
| Education: | Politics, Philosophy, and Economics |
| Alma mater: | University of Cape Town |
| Occupation: | Author, academic, activist, musician |
| Spouse: | Sumaya Hendricks |
| Children: | Hakim Thembekile |
Early life
Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh was born on 4 January 1989 in Johannesburg, South Africa. His father, Dali Mpofu, is the chairman of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) political party. His mother, Theresa Oakley-Smith, is the daughter of a British diplomat.
Edwin Cameron, the former Constitutional Court judge, is his godfather. Mpumi Mpofu, the CEO of the Airports Company of South Africa, is his stepmother. He described himself as being raised by a single mother.
Mpofu-Walsh lived in Qugqwala, a village in Eastern Cape before he underwent ritual Xhosa initiation in 2007
Education
Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh studied at Sacred Heart College and completed it at St John’s College. He obtained a Bachelor of Social Sciences in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics from the University of Cape Town (2008 – 2011).
The student was president of the University of Cape Town Students’ Representative Council in 2010. He co-founded the youth-led civil society organization InkuluFreeHeid at the University of Cape Town.
Sizwe holds a Bachelor of Social Sciences in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics (Honors) from the University of Cape Town in 2012. He attended the University of Oxford for a Master of Philosophy in International Relations (2013 – 2015).
Mpofu-Walsh obtained a Doctor of Philosophy in International Relations from the University of Oxford (2015-2020).
Career
Singing
Mpofu-Walsh criticized the then President, Jacob Zuma, for corruption through his song Mr President in 2013. The Wall Street Journal Featured the song.
The singer made it on the Mail and Guardian list of the 200 top young South Africans in 2013. He, alongside AKA and Nhlanhla Makenna, was part of the hip-hop group Entity.
Writing
His writings for City Press revolve around racism and corruption. He wrote an article, SA’s Three-Way Split, in 2014. He has supported and advocated for free education in South Africa. He is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Wits Institute for Social and Economic Research.
Sizwe received the City Press-Tafelberg Award for promising non-fiction for his book Democracy and Delusion: 10 Myths in South African Politics. He had published the book in 2017. He has written another book, The New Apartheid, published in 2021.
Presenting
Sizwe founded the youth current affairs show, the Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh Xperience (SMWX). His big break as a radio presenter came after he took over a show on the radio station 702. He was part of the Rhodes Must Fall in Oxford campaign.
The South African Media Innovation Programme (SAMIP) funded his podcast initiative, SMWX. He landed a one-hour show on SABC News in 2023.
Personal Life
Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh is married to Sumaya Hendricks. The couple welcomed their son, Hakim Thembekile, on 21 April 2022. They celebrated twelve years of marriage January 2024.