Minister of Communications

Personal

• Date of Birth: 22 May 1950
• Marital Status: Married

Current Positions

• Minister of Communications of the Republic of South Africa since 11 May 2009.
• Member of the African National Congress (ANC) National Executive Committee since 1991.
• Board Member of the Public Investment Corporation, the Audit and Risk and Investment Committees.

Academic Qualifications

• Matriculated from Orlando High School, Soweto (1969).
• Bachelor of Arts degree from University of South Africa (UNISA).
• Postgraduate Diploma in Economic Principles from University of London.
• MSc in Financial Management from University of London.
• Attended training Civil Service Programme at Civil Service College in UK.
• Attended Infantry Platoon Commander's Course in German Democratic Republic.
• Attended 60mm Artillery course in German Democratic Republic.
• Attended Abridged Brigade Commander's course in Moscow, Soviet Union.
• Completed an Intelligence Course in German Democratic Republic.
• Attended Senior Command and Staff Duties Course at South African Defence College.
• Attended Joint Staff Course at South African Defence College.

Career/Memberships/Positions/Other Activities

• Recruiting Officer, ANC underground (1974 - 1976).
• Commander of Trainees, Training Platoon (1976).
• Commander Transvaal Urban Machinery (1979 - 1983).
• Chief of Staff Transvaal Command (Eastern Command) (1983 - 1986).
• Commander Border Operations, Swaziland (1986).
• Deputy Head, Political Military underground leadership in South Africa (1988 - 1990).
• Arrested (July - November (1990).
• Elected to National Executive Committee of the ANC (1991 - 1994, and since December 2007).
• Appointed Chief of Staff of Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) (1992 - 1994).
• Co-Chairman of the Joint Military Co-ordinating Committee of the Transitional Executive Council (1994).
• Chief of Defence Force Staff, South African National Defence Force (SANDF) (1994 - 1997).
• General Officer commanding Gauteng Command (1997).
• Deputy Chief of the SANDF (1997 - 1998).
• Chief of the SANDF (1998 - 2005).

Awards/Decorations

• Military Merit Medal.
• Unitas Medal (commemorating the establishment of the SANDF).