Minister of Science & Technology

Personal

• Date of Birth: 7 August 1947
• Marital Status: Married

Current Positions

• Minister of Science and Technology of the Republic of South Africa since 29 April 2004.
• President of the Azanian People's Organisation (AZAPO) (since 1994).

Academic Qualifications

• Junior Certificate with distinction (1965 - 1967).
• Matriculated at Hebron Training College (1968 - 1969).
• BSc degree (Honours) University of South Africa.
• MSc degree in Applied Mathematics from University of South Africa.

Career/Positions/Memberships/Other Activities

• Joined South African Students Organisation (SASO) and elected onto the Students Representative Council at the University of Zululand (1971).
• Moved back to Pretoria and joined the Pretoria branch of SASO as Chairperson (1972).
• Participated in the SASO literacy campaign in the Winterveld area (1972).
• Head of quality control laboratory in a brick-making factory at Olifantsfontein (1972).
• Convener of the interim structure of the Black People's Convention (BPC) in the Pretoria area until elected at its inaugural Congress as National Organiser (1972).
• Arrsted for his political activities in 1972 and imprisoned in Robben Island for 5 years.
• Released in 1978 and ordered to remain under house-arrest in Mahwelereng for 5 years.
• Went into exile in Botswana (1980).
• Became Chairperson of the Botswana region of the Black Conscious Movement of Azania (BCMA) (1981). He later moved to Zimbabwe.
• Chairperson of the Central Committee of the BCMA (1982 - 1994).
• Returned to South Africa and became the President of Azanian People's Organization (AZAPO) (1994).
• Elected Member of Parliament in 1999.
• Deputy Minister of Education of the Republic of South Africa (2001 - 27 April 2004).
• First Patron of Sowetan-Telkom Mathematics and Science Teacher of the year Awards, and the founder chairperson of South African National Literacy Initiative (SANLI) and Masifundesonke Reading Campaign in 2001.

Awards/Decorations/Presentations/Bursaries

• Conferred upon by the Vaal University of Technology an Honourary Doctorate (Technologiae Doctoris) on 18 March 2008 in the field of applied sciences in recognition of his service and invaluable contribution to the social upliftment of both our region and country.

Research and Publications

• Author of the following four books, On Your Own (September 1989), Quest For True Humanity (1996), A twin World (1996). and My Grand Mother is Permanent (2004).