Other: Watching and playing, soccer, cricket, squash and reading.
Current Positions
Deputy Minister of Basic Education of the Republic of South Africa since 11 May 2009.
Academic Qualifications
Bachelor of Arts degree from University of Durban-Westville in 1973, Honours degree in Philosophy in 1974, Proc degree from University of South Africa (UNISA) in 1977.
Completed an LLM degree in Constitutional Litigation from University of the Western Cape (UWC) in 1996 and Postgraduate Certificate in Higher education.
Positions last held/Career/Memberships/Other Activities
Admitted as Attorney in 1977 and practised as an attorney and human Rights Lawyer in Rustenburg from 1977 until 1994.
Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development of the Republic of South Africa between 25 September 2008 and 10 May 2009. He served as a Member of Parliament in the Senate and its successor, the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) from 1994 until 2004.
Member of the Management Committee of the Constitutional Assembly and negotiator for the ANC on the Bill of Rights for the period 1994 to 1996. He joined the National Assembly and redeployed to the NCOP as Chief Whip from 1999 to 2004; and served as Deputy Minister of Education of the Republic of South Africa (before split) from 29 April 2004 until 25 September 2008.
