Former Deputy Minister

Personal

• Date of Birth: 24 November 1955

Positions last held in government

• Deputy Minister of Social Development in the Republic of South Africa (29 April 2004 - 10 May 2009).

Academic Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science from University of North East London (1980).
• Master of Science from University of Cape Town (1984).
• Doctor of Philosophy in Social Psychology from University of the Western Cape (1996).

Career/Positions/Memberships/Other Activities

• Member of United Women's Congress (UWCO) of Surrey Estate Branch (1980's).
• Participated in FEDSAW Cultural Rallies (1986 - 1988).
• Member of Musical Action for People's Power (MAPP).
• Member of University of the Western Cape (UWC) Action Committee.
• Expelled from the University of the Western Cape for political activities in 1973.
• Fled to London to avoid subpoena to be state witness in the trial of Sach Cooper and 12 others for 'terrorist activities', returned in 1980.
• Served on executives of Bellville African National Congress (ANC) branch, ANC Northern Suburbs Regional Executive and ANC Western Cape Province (1990 - 1995).
• Served in Culture Policy Development Committees within the ANC.
• Co-ordinated Western Cape Language Policy Development Committee (1988 - 1992).
• First Chairperson of University of the Western Cape Association of Democratic Educators (UWCADE) in 1980's.
• Member of UWC Appointments Committee; elected Member of UWC Senate, first elected Head of Department for Psychology and Member of UWC Transformation Forum (1986 - 1996).
• Senior lecturer in Social Psychology at University of Western Cape.
• Member of Parliament, National Assembly (1997 - 2004).
• Served in Education, Arts and Culture and Quality of Life and Status of Women Portfolio Committees, (1997 - 1999).
• Member of Trade and Industry Portfolio Committee (1999 - 2002).
• Member of Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises (2002 - 2004).
• Served in both Joint Rules Committee and Language Policy Committee.

Research/Presentations/Awards/Decorations/Bursaries and Publications

• Doctor of Philosophy, Thesis: 'Ethnolinguistic Vitality and the Development of Trilingualism in the Western Cape'.
• 'Language and the struggle for racial equality in the development of a non-racial South African nation' in African Languages, Development and the State (1994).
• Author of document: ANC proposal for Language Facilities in Parliament (2003).