Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development

Personal

• Date of Birth: 2 October 1965
• Marital Status: Married

Current Positions

• Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development of the Republic of South Africa since 11 May 2009.
• Member of Parliament for the African National Congress (ANC) since 1994.

Academic Qualifications

• B Civil Law from the University of Pretoria.

Positions last held/Career/Memberships/Other Activities

• Whip of Portfolio Committee on Justice and House Whip from 2000 to 2002.
• Between 2006 and 2007 Mr Nel served as Acting Chief Whip of the African National Congress (ANC).
• Chairperson of House of the National Assembly between 2008 and 2009.
• Served as Deputy Chief Whip of the ANC from 2002 to 2008.
• Served on the Portfolio Committees on Justice and Constitutional Development, Correctional Services, Health, Home Affairs, Communications, the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA); various Ad hoc committees as well as internal parliamentary committees such as the Rules, Joint Rules and Programme Committees, the Chief Whips' Forum and Parliamentary Oversight Authority.
• Has been involved in the National Union of South Africa Students, South African Student Press Union, Students for a Democratic Society, Students for Human Rights and the End Conscription Campaign.
• Active in politics since high school in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
• Served on the Constitutional Assembly Committee dealing with the judiciary and legal system.
• Co-ordinator of the Legal and Monitoring Team and ANC National Elections Team.
• Member of the National Executive Committee of the ANC Youth League from 1996 to 2001.
• Co-ordinator of the Lawyers for Human Rights' Capital Punishment and Penal Reform Project from 1990 to 1994.
• Member of ANC structures at branch and regional level in the Pretoria area.