Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation

Personal

• Other: Born at Cape Flats in Cape Town, South Africa.

Current Positions

• Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of the Republic South Africa since 1 November 2010.
• Member of Parliament since 2009.
• Member of African National Congress (ANC).
• Chairperson of Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training.

Academic Qualifications

• Completed Matric with exemption at Bishop Lavin Secondary School in 1987.
• Obtained a Diploma in Land Reform, Fishing, Tenure Rights, Rural Development and Local government Monitoring and Evaluation Systems.
• In 1991 he obtained a Diploma in Education from University of the Western Cape.
• In 1991 he obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree from University of Western Cape.

Positions last held/Career/Memberships/Other Activities

• Taught at Vredendal School on the West Coast.
• Worked as a Regional Organiser for ANC.
• Worked for Surplus People's Project as Farm Dweller Project Manager. During this time he organised, mobilised and played an advocacy role for the rights of farm-dwellers including issues of tenure rights.
• Chairperson and Regional Organiser for ANC North Coast provincial Department.
• Chairperson and Secretary for SADTU North West Coast in 1994.
• He served as Provincial Deputy Secretary of ANC in Western Cape from 1997 to 2004.
• Member of Provincial Legislature in the Western Cape in 1999.
• Councillor and Mayor of Metropolitan Municipality of Cape Town.
• Member of Exective Council (MEC) for Social Development in 2002.
• From 2004 to 2009 he served as an MEC for Local Government and Housing, MEC for Transport and Public Works, and MEC for Health in Western Cape Provincial Government.
• Headed the fishing Desk, and his primary task was liaison with fishing Community. This role enabled him to work closily with fishing communities in Western Cape from 1997 to 2004.
• Coordinated rural elections from 1995 to 1999.
• Coordinated Provincial elections under the leadership of the provincial Secretary in 1999.
• Served as a Deputy Mayor and then Mayor for Vredendal Municipal Council from 1995 to 1998.