Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

Personal

• Date of Birth: 16 December 1963
• Marital Status: Married

Current Positions

• Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries since 11 May 2009.
• Member of the African National Congress (ANC) National Executive Committee since December 2007.

Academic Qualifications

• Attended the William Pescodia High School.
• Higher Diploma in Education from the University of Western Cape.
• Degree in Executive Management in Education from the University of Cape Town.
• Bachelor of Arts in English and History from the University of Western Cape.

Career/Memberships/Positions/Other Activities

• Member of the Azanian Students Organisation (1985 - 1986).
• Teacher at Pescodia Secondary School (1987).
• Tutor in History (1989 - 1991).
• Research Assistant to the Head of English Department at the University of Western Cape (1990).
• Tutor in English for the National Education Co-ordinating Committee (1992 - 1993).
• Tutor in English for the Education Development Trust(1992 - 1993).
• Teacher at Homevale Senior Secondary School (1992 - 1993).
• Member of Northern Cape Regional Delegate to the ANC National Education and Cultural Desk (1992 - 1993).
• Member of South African Democratic Teacher's Union (SADTU) (1992).
• National Representative of SADTU for Northern Cape (1992).
• Member of the National People's Education Panelist (1992).
• Lecturer in the English Department at University of the Free State (1993 - 1994).
• Member of the Union of Democratic University Staff Association.
• Acting President of the Association of University English Teachers in South Africa.
• Member of the ANC Provincial Executive Committee in the Northern Cape.
• Member of the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature (1994).
• Member of the ANC Women's League National Executive Committee (1998 - 2003).
• Member of the Executive Council for Education, Arts and Culture in the Northern Cape (1994 - 1999).
• Board Member for the Helen Joseph Women Development Centre (1997 - 2001).
• Member of the South African Communist Party (SACP) Central Committee (1998).
• Chairperson of the ANC Women's League in the Northern Cape (1998).
• Chairperson of the SACP in the Northern Cape (1998).
• Member of the Northern Cape Provincial HIV and AIDS Council (2000).
• Treasurer of the ANC Provincial Executive Committee for the Northern Cape (2003).
• Member of the Executive Council for Education (2003).
• Chairperson of the Northern Cape Province Rehabilitation Trust (2004).
• Chairperson of the Birch Education Trust (2001 - 2004).
• Chairperson of the ANC Financial Committee (FINCOM).
• Chairperson of the Land Reform Co-ordinating Committee.
• Chairperson of the ANC Economic Transformation Committee (ETC).
• Trustee of Desmond Tutu Diversity Trust (2001).
• Trustee of Mosiuoa Lekota Children's Fund (2005).

Awards/Decorations/Bursaries

• Recipient of the Ford Foundation Scholarship (1990).
• Recipient of the Human Sciences Research Council Bursary (1990).