Minister of Arts and Culture of the Republic of South Africa since 1 November 2010.
Provincial Chairperson of African National Congress (ANC) in Gauteng since 2007.
Currently the Paid up member of the South African Communist Party (SACP).
Academic Qualifications
Attended School at Alexandra High School in Gauteng.
Post Graduate Diploma in Economic Principles from University of London.
Career/Positions/Memberships/Other Activities
Served the country's national liberation movement in various capacities.
Member of the Congress of South African Students (Cosas).
Founding member of the Alexandra Youth Congress in 1983.
Co-founder of the South African Youth Congress (SAYCO).
Participated in the co-ordination of the International Year of the Youth Campaign in 1985.
Active member in the underground structures of the ANC and SACP.
Participated in and led many United Democratic Front (UDF) campaigns, including Million Signature Campaign, the rent boycott and the campaign to unban the ANC.
Secretary of the UDF in the Southern Transvaal (1985 -1991).
Served under Ma Albertina Sisulu, then provincial and national president and vice presidents Kgabisi Mosunkutu and Ram Saloojee.
Harassed by the security police and was detained under the state of emergency in 1985 and again in 1987.
Held for almost four years without trial, and during that period went on hunger strike for 18 days as part of a nationwide hunger strike protest.
Released from prison and placed under house arrest until the unbanning of the ANC in 1990.
Survived an attempt on his life by the apartheid regime when his home was bombed.
Played a leading role in re-establishing the structures of the ANC and SACP in Gauteng after the unbanning of the ANC in 1990.
Served as Secretary of the SACP in the Transvaal Region until 1992.
Member of the National Executive Committee of the ANC from 1992 - 1998.
Part of the leadership deployed to establish democratic government in Gauteng in 1994.
Member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature and the leader of the House in 1994.
Gauteng MEC for Transport and Public Works (1996 - 1998).
Gauteng MEC for Safety (1998 - 1999).
Gauteng MEC for Housing (1999 - 2004).
Member of Executive Council-MEC for Finance and Economic Affairs (2004 - 2008).
Served as a Political Education Officer under the Chairpersonship of ANC Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe.
Served as a Provincial Secretary under Chairpersonship of ANC former Gauteng Premier Tokyo Sexwale.
Served as the Deputy Chairperson under the Chairpersonship of ANC former Gauteng Premier Mathole Motshekga.
Member of the Provincial Executive Committee under the Premiership of Mbhazima Shilowa.
Elected as ANC Chairperson of Gauteng in 2007.
Experienced administrator and longest serving member of the provincial Executive Committee of the ANC in Gauteng.
Served as Secretary of the UDF and the ANC for the past 13 years.
Served under both President Nelson Mandela and President Thabo Mbeki.
Has always emphasized the importance of keeping close links with communities affected by poverty and inequality.
Spearheaded the development of Gauteng policies and programmes, including the Alexandra Renewal Programme and the Gautrain project.
His exposure to social and economic portfolios has given him the insight into the challenges of both economic and social development.
Premier of Gauteng (7 October 2008 - 10 May 2009).
Deputy Minister of Arts and Culture of the Republic of South Africa (11 May 2009 30 October 2010).
