Government Government of South Africa Water and Environmental Affairs Minister. South Africa

Current Positions
    * Replaced Buyelwa Sonjica as Water and Environmental Affairs Minister on 31 Ocotober 2010.
    * Fomer 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).


Career/Positions/Memberships/Other Activities

    * Teacher at Moloto and Makaunyane Secondary Schools (1976 - 1981).
    * Served in the underground structures of the liberation movement in 1980s.
    * Chairperson of South African Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers Union (SACCAWU), Warmbaths Branch.

    * Deputy President of South African Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers Union (SACCAWU).

    * Member of the Federation of Transvaal Women.
    * 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.
    * Provincial Treasurer of the African National Congress in the North West Province until 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.

Source: Ministry of Social Development