Profile information

Personal

• Date of Birth: 16 August 1955.
• Other: Spending time outdoors and enjoying nature, photography, sport and studying.

Current Positions

• Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Republic of South Africa since 11 May 2009.
• Member of Parliament (MP) since 2004.

Academic Qualifications

• Matriculated at Moroka High School (1974).
• Enrolled for BProc degree in Zululand (but could not proceed due to 1976 riots) (1975 - 1976).
• Pursuing LLB degree with the University of South Africa (2004).
• Completed various management courses dealing with Events and Special Project Management.
• Certificate in Leadership Communication through LDP programme (2007).

Career/Positions/Memberships/Other Activities

• Teacher at Malatse Motsepe High School (1977 - 1978).
• Teacher at Rantailane High School (1978 - 1981).
• Worked for South African Breweries (1981 - 1994).
• Member of the first democratic Parliament (1994 - 1999).
• Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Environmental Affairs and Tourism (1997 - 2004).
• Member of the second democratic Parliament (1999 - 2003).
• Vice-President of the Coordinating Committee of Women Parliamentarians (IPU) (April 2000 - April 2002).
• President of Coordinating Committee of Women Parliamentarians (IPU) (April 2002 - April 2004).
• President of Globe Southern Africa (2002 - 2004).
• Member of the African National Congress Women's League (ANCWL) National Executive Committee (NEC) (1997 - 2003).
• Served on the Provincial Executive Committee of the ANCWL PWV region (present Gauteng) (1992 - 1993).
• Chairperson of the ANCWL, Ga Rankuwa Branch (1991 - 1993).
• Deputy Chairperson ANC Ga Rankuwa Branch (1991 - 1993).
• Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly (2004 - 25 September 2008).
• Chairperson of the Disciplinary Committee of the National Assembly.
• Chairperson of the National Assembly Forum.
• Chairperson of the Medical Aid Scheme (PARMED) of MP's, MPL's and Judiciary Board of Trustees.
• Chairperson of National Assembly Rules Committee.
• Chairperson of the National Assembly Programme and Rules Committee.
• Chairperson of the Joint Rules Committee and International Relations Committee.
• Chairperson of the co-ordinating Committee of Women Parliamentarians of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) during the period 2008 - 2010.
• Co-Chairs the joint Rules Committee with the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP).
• Co-Chairs the joint programme with Rules Committee with the Chairperson of the (NCOP).
• Co-Chairs the joint Rules Committee with the Chairperson of the (NCOP).
• Co-Chairs the Speakers Forum with the Chairperson of the (NCOP).
• Co-Chairs the Executive Committee with the Chairperson of the (NCOP).
• Co-Chairs the presiding Officers Forum with the Chairperson of the (NCOP).
• Co-Chairs the Parliamentary Oversight Authority with the Chairperson of the (NCOP).
• Speaker of the National Assembly (25 September 2008 - 10 May 2009).

• 101 Assembly in Brussels, Belgium (1999).
• 102 Assembly in Berlin, Germany (1999)
• 103 Assembly in Aman, Jordan (2000).
• 104 Assembly in Jakarta, Indonesia (2000).
• 105 Assembly in Havana, Cuba (2001).
• 106 Assembly in Ougadougou, Burkina Faso (2001).
• 107 Assembly in Marrakesh, Morocco and elected President of the Co-ordinating Committee of Women Parliamentarians (2002).
• 108 Assembly in Santiago, Chile and launched the first Parliamentary handbook on Convention for the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) (2003).
• 111 Assembly in Geneva, Swirterland (2004).
• 113 Assembly in Geneva, Swirterland (2005).
• 116 Assembly in Nusa Dua- Bali, Indonesia (2007).
• 118 Assembly in Cape Town, South Africa and elected Chairperson of the Co-ordinating Committee of Women Parliamentarians of IPU (2008).
• Represented the IPU Executive as President of the Co-orditing Committee of Women Parliamentarians at the 47th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women in New York (2003).
• Attended "Club Madrid African Women Leaders" project in Uganda (May 27 - 29 2008).
• Attended Pan African Conference on Sexual and Gender Based Violence Nairobi, Kenya (20 - 24 July 2008).