In 1977, she graduated with a BA from the University of Botswana and Swaziland, and she continued her education at the Canadian Coady International Institute, where she completed a diploma in community development in 1979.
[2] She worked as a community development officer for Inkatha from 1980 to 1983 before returning to education, and thereafter was principal of Ekudubekeni High School in rural Mahlabatini from 1983 to 1994.
[1] Weeks after taking office as Education MEC, Nkosi-Shandu attracted national attention by announcing her support for the use of corporal punishment in schools, which she said was the surest way of maintaining "an orderly and safe environment".
[3] On 22 August 2000, Nkosi-Shandu was sacked from the provincial cabinet in a nepotism scandal: it had emerged that her brother, Isaac Nkosi, had been appointed as deputy director-general in her department, despite performing poorly in the recruitment process.
The provincial legislature found Nkosi-Shandu guilty of misconduct and Premier Mtshali, announcing her dismissal, said that Nkosi's appointment "was the last straw that cut short the Minister's brilliant career...