Minister of Energy
Personal information
• Date of Birth: 13 May 1960
Current positions
• Minister of Energy of the Republic of South Africa since 11 May 2009.
• Member of the African National Congress (ANC) and the Women's League National Executive Committee.
Academic qualifications
- Attended school at Tidimalo Junior Secondary and Tshireleco Senior secondary respectively.
- Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work from University of the North (1987).
- Certificate in Development and Public Policy from UWC (SADEP) (1996).
- Certificate in Executive Management from UCT Graduate School of Business (2002).
- Certificate in International Policy Management, Havana, Cuba (2002).
Career/Positions/Memberships/Other Activities
- Joined the Young Christian Students where political activism started.
- Participated in Youth Formations in the church and community.
- Deputy Chairperson of the Women's Forum in AZASO which later became SASCO at the University of the North.
- Member of the Galeshewe Youth Congress, an affiliate of the United Democratic Front (UDF).
- Worked as a volunteer regional organiser for the South African Domestic Worker's Union, amongst which she dealt with recruiting, organising, educating and counseling domestic workers in the Northern Cape (1987).
- Head of Women's Department at the South African Youth Congress (1987 - 1990).
- Joined the African National Congress Youth League as the secretary for Women Affairs (1990).
- Woman Organiser of the National Executive Council (NEC) of South African Youth Congress SAYCO) (1987 - 1990).
- Member of the Provincial National Youth Committee (PNYC) (1990 - 1991).
- Member of the Portfolio Committees on Home Affairs, Public Works, Social Services and Health.
- Worked for NCCR a United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) structure which worked for the repatriation of political exiles and re-intergration of political prisoners after the unbanning of political organisations.
- Worked as a social worker for the NCCR, tasks included liaising with other organizations on behalf of the Committee in the Northern Cape, administering grants for the disabled, aged and un-accompanied minors, and proposing and implementing service plans for the individuals and groups of returnees (1992 - 1994).
- Member of Provincial Executive of the ANC in the Northern Cape (1996).
- Member of Parliament (National Assembly) and was responsible for the Northern Cape and ANC membership/Caucus Register (1994 - 1997).
- Deputy Chairperson of the ANC in the Northern Cape, and later acting Provincial Chairperson (2004).
- ANC Chief Whip in the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature (1997 - 1999).
- ANC's Treasurer for the Northern Cape Province (1997 - 2003).
- Member of Executive Council (MEC) for Health (1999 - 2004).
- Provincial Deputy Chairperson of ANC (May - December 2003).
- Member of the ANC Womens' League National Executive Committee (2002 - 2003).
- Member of ANC National Executive Committee (1998 - 2007).
- Provincial Chairperson of the African National Congress (ANC)(December 2003 - December 2007).
- Premier of the Northern Cape Province (22 April 2004 - 10 May 2009).
Department of Mineral and Energy Affairs | Private Bag X59, 0001 Pretoria |
Tel (012) 317-8000 | Fax (012) 320-4327 | www.dme.gov.za
