Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans

Personal

• Date of Birth: 18 May 1957.
• Other: Watching soccer, tennis, live music shows and boxing.

Current Positions

• Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans of the Republic of South Africa since 11 May 2009.
• Elected to the ANC'S Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) in Mpumalanga Province in 2002.
• Chairperson of the African National Congress (ANC) in Mpumalanga Province since 2005.

Academic Qualifications

• Matriculated from Mmabathoana High School in Maseru, Lesotho in 1977.
• Diploma in Public and Policy Development Administration (PPDA) from Wits Graduate School.
• Diploma in Social Science from Academy of Social Sciences in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Positions last held/Career/Memberships/Other Activities

• Member of the South African Student's Movement (SASM) Polokwane in 1974.
• Went into exile into and Joined Umkhonto We Sizwe (MK) in 1976.
• While in exile he has lived in Angola, Botswana, Lesotho and Zambia.
• Member of ANC Umkhonto weSizwe underground functionary from 1979 to 1990.
• Treasurer of the South African Communist Party (SACP) Botswana Region from 1986 to 1988.
• Returned to South Africa after unbanning of political Organisations in 1990.
• Executive member of the ANC Gender Commission in 1992.
• Member of the ANC Youth League (ANCYL), National Executive Committee and National Working Committee (NWC) from 1990 to 1994.
• Member of the Portfolio Committee on Sport and Recreation from 1994 to 1996.
• Member of the Portfolio Committee on Tourism and Environment from 1994 to 1996.
• Member of Parliament from 1994 to 2001.
• Chairperson of the ANC Caucus from 1996 to 2001.
• Member of the Joint Standing Committee on Defence from 1994 to 2001.
• Member of the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence from 1998 to 2001.
• Member of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts from 2000 to 2001.
• Member of Finance Committee from 2000 to 2001.
• Member of the Ministerial Task Group on Civic Education in the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).
• Member of the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature from 2001 to 10 May 2009.
• MEC for Safety and Security in Mpumalanga Province from from 2001 to 2004.
• Served as Premier of Mpumalanga Province from 21 April 2004 to 10 May 2009.
• Former member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the African National Congress (ANC).