Minister in the Presidency of the Republic of South Africa since 17 June 1999 with specific responsibility for the Office on the Rights of the Child (ORC), Office on the Status of Disabled People (OSPD), Office on the Status of Women (OSW), the National Youth Commission, Government Communication and Information System (GCIS), International Marketing Council (IMC) and Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA).
The Minister carries out a wide range of political duties as designated by the President.
Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the South African Democracy Education Trust since 2000.
Chairperson of the Board of the SA/Mali Timbuktu Manuscripts Trust since 2003.
Member of the Board, and Executive Committee of the Board of the SA 2010 FIFA World Cup Local Organising Committee since 2004.
Academic Qualifications
Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from University of the Witwatersrand.
Master of Arts degree in African Politics from University of Sussex.
PhD, History from University of Sussex. Thesis entitled, 'The development of Indian political movements in South Africa 1924 - 1946'.
Career/Positions/Memberships/Other Activities
Member and Secretary of the Transvaal Indian Youth Congress (TIYC) Executive Committee (1958 - 1964).
After the banning of African National Congress (ANC) he was part of TIYC volunteers, producing and distributing ANC pamphlets and posters (1960 - 1963).
Member of the TIYC Executive Committee (1962 - 1964).
Active in student politics at the University of the Witwatersrand.
Arrested and imprisoned for two weeks, later charged with organising an 'illegal strike',found not guilty (1962 - 1963).
Banned for five years and went into exile (December 1964).
In exile served on leadership structures of ANC and the South African Communist Party (SACP). During this period he also graduated from the Institute of Social Science in Moscow, Russia and completed a short military course in Angola.
Represented the SACP on the Editorial Council of the World Marxist Review (1975 - 1985).
Served on the regional command of the ANC's Political and Military Council in London, before returning to South Africa in 1990.
Parliamentary Counsellor to then Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa (May 1994 - July 1996).
Deputy Minister in the Office of the former Executive Deputy President, Thabo Mbeki (August 1996 - 16 June 1999).
Former member of the Central Committee and Political Bureau of the SACP.
Former Member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the African National Congress (ANC).(1994 - 2007).
Research/Presentations/Awards/Decorations/Bursaries and Publications
Published numerous articles in the Journals of the South African Communist Party (SACP) and the ANC, and also in a wide range of South African media.
Co-editor of : "Africa, the Time has Come" and "Africa, Define Yourself", a collections of speeches by President Thabo Mbeki.
Numerous articles in newspapers and in "Rolling Stone" a publication for people with Disabilities in South Africa.
"Political Participation and Civic Engagement: Citizens and the State". Discussant World Economic Forum. Cape Town, May 2006.
The role of government in creating an environment for economic growth and private sector development, CHAMSA Annual general meeting and conference. Gallagher Estate Midrand. May 2006.
Do Free Trade Agreements and Regional Trade Agreement limit the WTO goals?...
Global responses to the challenges of Racism, Xenophobia and related Intolerances. National Conference against Racial discrimination, Xenophobia and related Intolerances; "Towards Reconciliation and nation-building: A nation in dialogue". December 2005.
Country Self Assessment: Socio-Economic Development. Presented at the annual public management conversation, 2005. George, Western Cape. December 2005.
"Timbuktu's contribution to Humanity", Timbuktu Workshop/Tombouctou Atelier. University of Cape Town, 22 - 24 August 2005.
"Developing a Common Progressive agenda encompassing the North and the South. Progressive governance Conference, a keynote address. Sandton, July 2005.
"Solutions to Healthcare in South Africa", South Africa Managed Care Congress. July 23, 2005.
Address to the South African Youth Policy Conference, hosted by the South African Youth Council in Durban. 11 June 2005.
