Other: Spending time outdoors and enjoying nature, photography, sport and studying.
Positions last held in government
Served as Minister of Public Works of the Republic of South Africa from 1 November 2010 to 2011.
Member of Parliament (MP) from 1994 to 2004.
Academic Qualifications
Matriculated at Moroka High School in 1974.
Between 1975 and 1976 enrolled for BProc degree in Zululand but could not proceed due to 1976 riots.
Pursuing LLB degree with the University of South Africa from 2004.
Completed various management courses dealing with Events and Special Project Management.
Obtained Certificate in Leadership Communication through LDP programme in 2007.
Career/Positions/Memberships/Other Activities
She Taught at Malatse Motsepe High School from 1977 to 1978 and at Rantailane High School from 1978 to 1981.
She Worked for South African Breweries from 1981 to 1994.
She became member of the first democratic Parliament from 1994 to 1999 and from 1999 to 2003.
Served as Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Environmental Affairs and Tourism from 1997 to 2004.
Served as Vice-President of the Coordinating Committee of Women Parliamentarians (IPU) from April 2000 to April 2002.
From April 2002 to April 2004 she served as President of Coordinating Committee of Women Parliamentarians (IPU).
Served as President of Globe Southern Africa from 2002 to 2004.
Chairperson of the ANCWL, for Ga Rankuwa Branch and as Deputy Chairperson of ANC Ga Rankuwa Branch from 1991 to 1993.
Served on the Provincial Executive Committee of the ANCWL PWV region (present Gauteng) from 1992 to 1993.
Served as a member of the African National Congress Women's League (ANCWL) National Executive Committee (NEC) from 1997 to 2003.
From 2004 and 2008 she served as Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly and as Chairperson of the Disciplinary Committee of the National Assembly.
She serve as Chairperson of the National Assembly Forum and Medical Aid Scheme (PARMED) for MP's, MPL's and Judiciary Board of Trustees.
Served as Chairperson of National Assembly Rules Committee, the National Assembly Programme and Rules Committee and the Joint Rules Committee and International Relations Committee.
She served as Chairperson of the co-ordinating Committee of Women Parliamentarians of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) during the period 2008 to 2010.
Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP).
Co-Chaired with the Chairperson of the (NCOP) in the following: the joint programme Rules Committee; the joint Rules Committee, the Speakers Forum, the Executive Committee, the presiding Officers Forum and the Parliamentary Oversight Authority Committee.
Served as Speaker of the National Assembly from 25 September 2008 to 10 May 2009.
From 1999 to 2008 she had attended the following Conferences:-
101 Assembly in Brussels, Belgium
102 Assembly in Berlin, Germany 1999
103 Assembly in Aman, Jordan 2000
104 Assembly in Jakarta, Indonesia 2000
105 Assembly in Havana, Cuba 2001.
106 Assembly in Ougadougou, Burkina Faso 2001
107 Assembly in Marrakesh, Morocco and elected President of the Co-ordinating Committee of Women Parliamentarians 2002.
108 Assembly in Santiago, Chile and launched the first Parliamentary handbook on Convention for the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) 2003.
111 Assembly in Geneva, Swirterland 2004.
113 Assembly in Geneva, Swirterland 2005.
116 Assembly in Nusa Dua- Bali, Indonesia 2007.
118 Assembly in Cape Town, South Africa and elected Chairperson of the Co-ordinating Committee of Women Parliamentarians of IPU 2008.
Represented the IPU Executive as President of the Co-orditing Committee of Women Parliamentarians at the 47th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women in New York 2003.
From May 27 to 29 2008 she attended "Club Madrid African Women Leaders" project in Uganda
From 20 to 24 July 2008 she attended Pan African Conference on Sexual and Gender Based Violence Nairobi, Kenya.
Former Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Republic of South Africa from 11 May 2009 to 30 October 2010.
