Profile information

Personal

• Date of Birth: 24 September 1949
• Marital Status: Single

Current Positions

• Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa since 25 September 2008.
• Chairperson of the African National Congress (ANC) Parliamentary caucus since 1995.
• Member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) since 1997 and National Working Committee since 1998.
• Member of National Executive Council (NEC) of African National Congress (ANC) since December 2007.
• National Chairperson of ANC since December 2007.
• President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union since April 2008.

Academic Qualifications

• Matriculated from Inanda Seminary in Durban (1968).
• Obtained Teacher's Certificate from Lovedale Teachers' College (1973).
• Post graduate courses with University of Cape Town:
• Framework for Governance (1998).
• Basic Principles of Public International Law (1999).
• International Humanitarian and Human Rights Law (2000).
• Theory and practice of conflict resolution (2005).

Career/Positions/Memberships/Other Activities

• Teacher at Isibonelo High School, KwaMashu, Durban (1974 - 1975).
• Went into exile and taught at Matter Dolorosa High School, Mbabane, Swaziland (1976 - 1977).
• Joined African National Congress (ANC) (1 May 1976).
• Worked in the ANC's Department of Information and Publicity (Radio Freedom) and Women's section in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (1977 - 1981).
• Member of the ANC's Regional Secretary of Women's section (April 1978 - October 1981).
• Public Relations work (informal) for ANC in Nairobi, Kenya (1981 - 1983).
• Worked in ANC underground political structures in Gaborone, Botswana (1983 - 1986).
• Head of Medu Art Ensemble and member of the Southern African Arts Trust Fund since 1984.
• Member of the ANC Regional Women's Committee and Regional Political Committee in Harare, Zimbabwe (1986 - 1987).
• Secretary to National Preparatory Committee for Women's section National Conference (April - September 1987).
• Member of the Executive Committee in the capacity of Administrative Secretary in Lusaka, Zambia (1987 - 1990).
• Member of interim Leadership Core and member of Task Force of ANC Women's League (1990 - 1991).
• Secretary-General of ANC Women's League (1991 - 1993).
• Member of the ANC National Executive Committee (ex-officio) (1991 - 1993).
• Member of Panel of Chairpersons of Multi-Party Negotiating process (1991 - 1994).
• National Spokesperson, ANC Election Centre (January - April 1994).
• Member of the Presidential Panel on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission since 1995.
• Member of the Constitutional Committee and National Assembly (1994).
• Co-Chairperson of Theme Committee 6 and member of its Core Group since 1994.
• Member of the ANC National Executive Committee since 1994.
• Chairperson of Sub-Theme Committee 6 since 1994.
• Served on International Advisory Panel for UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) Director General (1998).
• Member of Advisory Board to Desmond Tutu Leadership Academy.
• Served on a UNIFEM panel of experts to assist in engendering the Burundi Peace Process (June / July 2000).
• Delivered conflict related presentations in South Africa and other African countries, sponsored by UNIFEM, Centre for Conflict Resolutions (CCR) and ACCORD.
• Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of South Africa (May 1996 - April 2004).
• Leader of Parliamentary delegation to 9th Congress of Pan African Women's Organisation (Boksburg) (2008).
• Former Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of South Africa from April 2004 until 25 September 2008.