Minister of Housing of the Republic of South Africa since 29 April 2004.
Inaugural Chairperson of the African Ministerial Conference on Housing and Urban Development since 2005.
Member of Parliament since 1994.
Member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the African Congress (ANC).
Member of the National Working Committee of the ANC.
Trustee of the South African Democracy Education Trust.
Member of the Board of the Nelson Mandela Foundation.
Trustee of the Albertina and Walter Sisulu Trust.
Academic Qualifications
Completed GCE Cambridge University Ordinary Level at St Michael's School, Swaziland (1971).
Completed GCE Advanced Level at Waterford Kamhlaba, Swaziland (1973).
BA degree and Diploma in Education, University of Swaziland (1980).
BA Hons in History from University of Swaziland (1981).
MA in History, Centre for Southern African Studies, University of York.
M Phil, Centre for Southern African Studies, University of York (1989). Thesis topic: 'Women at Work and Liberation Struggle in South Africa'.
Career/Memberships/Positions/Other Activities
Detained for political activities (1975 - 1976).
Joined Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) and worked for underground structures of ANC in exile 1977 - 1978).
Obtained military training specialising in Intelligence (1977 - 1979).
Teacher at Manzini Central High School (1981).
Lecturer, Department of History, University of Swaziland (1982).
Sub-editor, The Times of Swaziland, Mbabane, Swaziland (1983).
Lecturer, Manzini Teachers Training College (1985 - 1987).
Chief Examiner, History for Junior Certificate Examinations for Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland (1985 1987).
Returned to South Africa (1990).
Personal Assistant to Jacob Zuma, the African National Congress (ANC) Head of Intelligence (1990).
Chief Administrator for the ANC at the Convention for a Democratic South Africa (CODESA) (1991).
Administrator of Intelligence, ANC Department of Intelligence and Security (1992).
Director of the Govan Mbeki Research Fellowship, University of Fort Hare (1993).
Member of Management of the Sub-Council on Intelligence, Transitional Executive Council (TEC) (1994).
Chairperson of the Parliamentary Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence (1995 - 1996).
Consultant of the National Children's Right Committee, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation. (UNESCO) (1992).
Member of Management Committee, Policing Organisation and Management course, PDM, University of the Witwatersrand (1993).
Deputy Minister of Home Affairs of the Republic of South Africa (1996 - 2001).
Minister of Intelligence of the Republic of South Africa (24 January 2001 - 28 April 2004).
Head of the Command Centre for Emergency Reconstruction (2000 - 2002).
Awards/Decorations/Presentations/Bursaries
Awarded the Human Rights Center Fellowship in Geneva (1992). Her project for the UN Center resulted in University of the Witwatersrand School of Business setting up a training course to upgrade the policing skill of MK members.
The Presidential Award for the breaking new ground in Housing delivery strategy by the Institute for Housing of South Africa (2004).
International Association for Housing Science Award in recognition for outstanding contributions and achievement towards improving and solving world's housing problems (2005).
Research and Publications
'Women at Work and Liberation Struggle in the 1980's' in R Cohen (ed), Themes in the twentieth century South Africa, Oxford University Press (1991).
'South African Women in Agricultural Sector' (pamphlet) York University (1990).
'Women Working Conditions in South Africa' South African Situation Analysis, National Children's Rights Committee, UNESCO (1992).
Housing Delivery and the Freedom charter: the beacon of hope, new agenda. Second quarter (2005).
