Bonginkosi Emmanuel "Blade" Nzimande (born 14 April 1958 in Edendale near Pietermaritzburg) is a South African politician, sociologist, and former anti-apartheid activist who is currently serving as Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation.

After graduating, he returned to Edendale and joined the Azanian Students' Organisation (Azaso) which eventually broke away from the Black Consciousness Movement (BCM), aligning itself with the Congress or Charterist tendency.

In January 1982 Nzimande moved to Durban, and at that stage was active in the Dambuza Youth Organisation which affiliated to the United Democratic Front (UDF) after its launch in 1983.

Saying he was part of the "old Mbeki crowd", senior ANC members loyal to Jacob Zuma called for Nzimande to become second Deputy President, alongside Baleka Mbete.

President Motlanthe was also attacked by Nzimande because he fired Vusi Pikoli in 2008, and refused to sign the SABC bill, which would give the ANC full control of state television.

[8] In October 2017, President Zuma, in a cabinet reshuffle, removed Nzimande from his position as the Minister of Higher Education and Training and replaced him with Hlengiwe Mkhize.

[10] As minister of education, he spoke out against the protests at universities following the Rhodes Must Fall movement, accusing them of being directed by the EFF and calling them "an anti-ANC government agenda by those who cannot win power through the ballot".