Deputy Minister of Arts and Culture

Personal

• Date of Birth: 21 July 1943
• Marital Status: Single
• Pastimes: Listening to music, watching sport and reading.

Current Positions

• Deputy Minister of Arts and Culture of the Republic of South Africa since 29 April 2004.
• Member of Parliament in the National Assembly since 28 July 1997.
• Member of portfolio committees on Justice and Constitutional Development, Improvement of the Quality and the Status of Women and Finance (Alt).

Academic Qualifications

• Attended Welsh High School in East London (1958 - 1961).
• University of South Africa (UNISA) courses credited towards B Proc Degree.
• UNISA Certificate Programme, Women and the Law (1995).

Career/Memberships/Positions/Other Activities

• Bookkeeper and Paralegal with Louis JC Hart Attorneys (1963 - 1971).
• Company Administrator and Wage Clerk, Gentner Manufacturing Company (1971 - 1974).
• Accounts Clerk, New Business, Accounts Supervisor, Training Officer, Southern Life (1974 - 1986).
• Organising Secretary of the South African Council of Churches-Border Region (1986 - 1990).
• Regional, Provincial and National Paralegal Training Project Co-ordinator for Lawyers for Human Rights (1991 - 1994; 1994 - 1996; 1996 - 1997 respectively).
• Manager of the East London Lawyers for Human Rights Office (1996 - 1997).
• Associate member of the South African Allied Workers Union (1980 - 1981).
• Member of the United Women's Organisations (1981- 1989).
• A member of the Steering Committee responsible for setting up the United Democratic Front (UDF) in the Border Region (1983).
• Secretary of the UDF, East London Region (1983 - 1984).
• Treasurer of the UDF, Border Region (1985 - 1986).
• Member and Secretary of the Regional Interim Committee responsible for setting up the African National Congress (ANC) structures in the Border Region (1990).
• A member of the South Africa National Civic Organisation (SANCO) and Secretary of Zone 8 Mdantsane (1990).
• Founder member of the Women's Development Foundation (1991 - 2007).
• Member of the Community Education Computer Society (1996 - 1997).
• National Convenor of the Independent Forum for Electoral Education (1993 - 1994).
• Vice-Chairperson of the Eastern Cape Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) Coalition (1996 - 1997).
• Represented the South African Parliament at the Inter-Parliament Union Conference in Moscow, Russia (1998).
• Co-Chairperson of the Ad Hoc Committee on Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination.
• Co-ordinator of the Choral Music Festival in East London (1996 - date).
• Deputy Minister of Provincial and Local Government of the Republic of South Africa (30 May 2001 - 28 April 2004).
• Member of the Human Rights Review Committee (2000 to date)

Research and Publications

• Has presented several speeches and papers at various conferences.