Minister of Social Development

Personal

• Date of Birth: 23 March 1957.
• Marital Status: Married

Current Positions

• Minister of Social Development of the Republic of South Africa since 11 May 2009.
• Member of the African National Congress Women's League National Executive Council since 2003.
• Chairperson of the African National Congress Women's League (ANCWL) in the North West Province.
• Member of the Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) since 1996.

Academic Qualifications

• Completed a course in Economic Leadership for the New Millennium and Administration Management from Wharton School of Business in United States of America (USA).
• Completed a course in Leadership at Kennedy School of Governance.
• Currently studying towards B.Com degree with University of South Africa (UNISA).
• Holds a Certificate in Negotiating Skills by IMMSA

Career/Positions/Memberships/Other Activities

• Teacher at Moloto and Makaunyane Secondary Schools (1976 - 1981).
• Served in the underground structures of the liberation movement (1976 - 1990).
• Chairperson of South African Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers Union (SACCAWU), Warmbaths Branch (1976 - 1990).
• Deputy President of South African Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers Union (SACCAWU) (1987 - 1993).
• Member of the Federation of Transvaal Women (1984 - 1990).
• Member of the Regional Executive Committee of Congress of South African Trade Union (COSATU), Northern Transvaal (1987 - 1989).
• Served on the National Labour Economic Institute (1992 - 1994).
• Deputy Chairperson of the African National Congress Womens League, Garankuwa Branch (1992 - 1994).
• Member of the National Assembly (1994 - 1996).
• First women Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry (1994 - 1996).
• Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Tourism, Environment and Conservation in North West Province (1996 - 1998).
• Member of the Executive Council for Economic Development and Tourism in North West Province (1998 - 2000).
• Member of the Executive Council for Agriculture, Conservation and Environment in North West Province (2000 - 2004).
• Chairperson of the African National Congress Women's League in the North West Province (2005 - 2008).
• Provincial Treasurer of the African National Congress in the North West Province (2002 - May 2005).
• Chairperson of the African National Congress (ANC) in the North West Province (May 2005 - May 2008).

Awards/Decorations/Bursaries

• The Department she led obtained the Platinum Award for best performance in the Province (2003).
• Voted best performing Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Agriculture in the Country by the National Emergent Red-Meat Producers Organization (NERPO) in 2003.

Research and Publications

• Author of unpublished articles in the following fields: Labour, Economics and Political Education.