Deputy Minister of Justice and Contitutional Development of the Republic of South Africa since 29 April 2004.
Member of the National Assembly of Parliament, representing the African National Congress (ANC) since 1994.
Member of the ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) Sub-committee on Constitutional Affairs since 1997.
Member of the ANC NEC Sub-committee on Peace and Stability since 1999.
Member of the Cabinet Committee on Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS), since 2004.
Member of the Cabinet Committee on Governance and Administration (GA), since 2004.
Member of the Cabinet Committee on International Relations, Peace and Security (IRPS), since 2004.
Member of the Cabinet Committee on Social Sector (SS), since 2004.
Member of the Inter-Ministerial Security Committee (IMSC), since 2004.
Observer status on NEC of the ANC since May 2004.
Member of the ANC NEC Sub-committee on Western Cape Province since 2004.
Academic Qualifications
Matriculated from Hoerskool Port Natal, Durban (1975).
Graduated from the University of Stellenbosch, with a BA degree (1978).
Graduated from the University of Cape Town with an LLB degree (1983).
Career/Memberships/Positions/Other Activities
Employed in the office of the Master of the Supreme Court, Cape Town (1979, 1981 and 1984).
Admitted as an Advocate and completed his pupillage with Adv. Willie Duminy at the Cape Bar, and practised as an Advocate at the Cape Bar, mainly in "political" criminal trials and litigation around civil liberties and human rights (1985 - 1993)
Member of the BEC of the Cape Town based Democratic Lawyers Organisation (DLO) (1986 - 1987).
Participated in the formation of the National Association of Democratic Lawyers (NADEL) (1986 - 1987).
Served on the Executive Committee of Cape Town Democrats, an affiliate of United Democratic Front (UDF), Western Cape Region (1987 - 1989).
Member of BEC of the Western Cape branch of NADEL (1987 - 1991) and (1993 - 1994).
Treasurer for the Western Cape UDF Regional Executive Committee (1988 - 1990).
Member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of NADEL, as a National Assistant Secretary (1988 - 1989).
Represented NADEL at Annual General Meeting of the American lawyer's organization, the National Lawyer's Guild (NLG), in Los Angeles, USA (1989).
Member of the Branch Executive Committee (BEC) of the Observatory/Mowbray branch of the ANC in the Western Cape Region (1990 - 1991).
Member of the NEC of NADEL, as the National General Secretary (1990 - 1991).
Member of the NEC of NADEL, as the National Publicity Secretary (1991 - 1992).
Member of the NEC of NADEL, as the National Projects Officer, dealing with Constitutional Options (1991 - 1992).
Member of the Regional Executive Committee (REC) of the ANC, Western Cape Region, responsible for the negotiations portfolio in the region (1991 - 1994.)
Employed as a Director of the legal Education, Research and Training Project of the National Association of Democratic Lawyers (NADEL) (1993 - 1994).
Part of the ANC's negotiating team at the Multi-Party Negotiations Process, at the World Trade Centre, Kempton Park, during the final months of the finalization and adoption of the (Interim) Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Act of 1993 (1993 - 1994).
Part of the ANC's negotiating team in the Constitutional Assembly, under the leadership of Mr Cyril Ramaphosa, particularly during the final months of the finalization, adoption and certification of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Act 1996 (1994 - 1996).
Member of the Steering Committee of the Constitutional Assembly, which facilitated the establishment of the structures of the Constitutional Assembly (1994).
Member of the Command Centre, which conducted the electoral campaign of the ANC's electoral alliance of the Western Cape Province, during South Africa's first democratic elections in 1994 and every subsequent election.
Member of the Constitutional Assembly, representing the ANC (1994 - 1996).
Member of the ANC Constitutional Commission of the National Executive Committee (NEC) (1994 - 1996) and the Extended Secretariat of the ANC Constitutional Commission of the NEC (1996).
Member of the Rules Committee of the Constitutional Assembly (1994 - 1996).
Member of the Theme Committee of the Constitutional Assembly dealing with the Judiciary and Legal Systems (1994 - 1996).
Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Justice (and Constitutional Development) of the National Assembly (1994 - 2004).
Member of the Judicial Service Commission (1999 - 2004).
Chairperson of the ANC Parliamentary Study Group on Justice (and Constitutional Development) and ANC parliamentary spokesperson on Justice (and Constitutional Development) (1994 - 2004).
Member of Rules Committee of the National Assembly (1994 - 2004).
Chairperson of the Sub-committee of the Review of Rules of the National Assembly (1994 - 2004).
Member of the ANC PEC Western Cape Province (1996 - 2005).
Awards/Decorations/Bursaries
Awarded Half-colours by Hoerskool Port Natal, Durban, for meritorious academic achievements in standard eight and nine (1973 - 1974).
Awarded by Hoerskool Port Natal, for meritorius sporting achievements in rugby ( 1974 and 1975).
Source: Deputy Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Development.
