Worldwide
Guide to Women in Leadership
Republic of South Africa/Republiek
van Suid-Afrika/ningizimu Afrika/Afrika Borwa/ Iningizimu Afrika/Afrika
Dzonga/Afreika Borwa/Afurika Tshiperube/Umzantsi Afrika (Female Suffrage for whites 1930, Colored and Indians
in 1984 and Blacks 1994) 1901 the Union of South Africa became a British Dominion, was declared an independent Republic 1961
Also see South African Homeland Ministers, South Africa Heads and South Africa Parliament
1952-61 Elizabeth the Second, Queen
of South Africa and of Her Other Realms and Territories, Head of the
Commonwealth (06.02-29.05)
From 1952-53 her official title was Elizabeth II, by the Grace of God of
United Kingdom, Ireland and the British Dominions Beyond the Seas Queen, Defender
of the Faith and Sovereign of South Africa. She has been Queen of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland since 1952.
1989-94 Minister of Health and
Welfare Dr. Elisabeth Henrika (Rika) Venter
Also member of the Minister's Council in the House of Representatives for
Health and Social Welfare. (b. 1938-)
1993-94 Member of the Minister's
Council in the House of Delegates for Education and Culture D. Grovender
The House of Delegates was a special Chamber for colored persons.
1993-94 Deputy Minister for
Justice Shiela M. Camerer
1996-97 Deputy Minister for Justice
Since 1999 Leader of the New National Party in the National Assembly (Former
Apartheid-party)
1993-94 Deputy Minister of Constitutional
Development and Communication Fannie Schoema
1994-99 Minister of Health Dr. Nkosazana C. Dlamini-Zuma
1999-2009 Minister of Foreign Affairs
2009- Minister of Home Affairs
Offered the post of Deputy President in 2005 after her ex-husband,
Jacob Zuma, was fired after corruption charges. She was candidate for the post
of Deputy President of ANC in 2007 but lost to a man, who has been also been
charged with corruption, like her ex-husband who became ANC President and State
President in 2009. (b. 1949-).(b. 1949-)
1994-99 Minister of Public
Utilities and Enterprises Dr. Princess Stella N. Sigcau
1999-2006 Minister of Public Works
Between 1970-87 Minister and 1987 Premier of the former "Independent"
Home-Land Transkei. Widow of Ronald Tshabalala and mother of three children.
She lived (1937-2006)
1994-99 Deputy Minister of
Agriculture Angela N.Thoko Msane Didiza
1999-2006 Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs
2006-08 Minister of Public Works (b. 1965-)
1994-95 Deputy Minister of Welfare
Sankie D. Mtembie-Mahanyele
1995-2003 Minister of Housing
2001 Acting President (20.04)
Between 1989-91 Deputy Head of International Affairs of ANC. On the 20th
of April 2001, she was sworn in as the first female acting President in the
Southafrican history while both President Thabo Mbeki and Vice-President Jacob
Zuma were abroad. She only acted for a few hours. From 2003 Deputy Secretary-General of the
African National Congres. (b. 1951-)
1994-96 Deputy Minister of Welfare
Geraldine J. Fraser-Moleketi
1996-99 Minister of Welfare and Population Development
1999-2008 Minister of Public Service and Administration
Also resigned from parliament in 2008.
(b. 1960-)
1994-95 Deputy Minister of Arts,
Culture, Science and Technology Nomzano Winni Madikizela-Mandela
During the imprisonment of her husband, Nelson Mandela (1964-89) she was known
as "Mother of the Nation" and among the leaders of the Anti-Apartheid
Movement and ANC. She is President of the Women’s Wing of ANC, 1997 she
withdrew her candidature for the post of vice-President of ANC (and of the
Republic) after revelations of her involvement in killings during Apartheid.
Since the divorce in 1995 she has been known as Madikizela-Mandela. (b. 1934-)
1995-2003 Deputy Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology
2003-04 Minister of Housing
2004-08 Minister of Justice and
Constitutional Development
2008-09 Minister of Public Entreprises
Brigitte S. Mabandla
(b. 1948-)
1996-2001 Deputy Minister of Home Affairs
Dr. Lindiwe D. Sisulu-Guma
2001-04
Minister of Intelligence
2004-09 Minister of Housing
2009- Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs
Daughter of former President of ANC Walter Sisulu and Nontsikelelo Albertine
Sisulu, 1983-93 President of the United Democratic Front.
1996-99 Deputy Minister of Finance
Gill Marcus
Between 1988-96 Deputy Secretary of Information of the ANC, From 1999 Deputy
Governor of the National Reserve (National Bank). (b. 1949-)
1996-99 Deputy Minister of
Industry and Trade Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka
1999-2005
Minister of Minerals and Energy
2004 Acting Minister of Arts and
Culture
2004 Acting President (28.07-30.07)
2005 Acting President (23.01)
2005-08 Deputy President
When President Mbeki was deposed by the ANC, she decided to resign instead
taking over as Acting President. (b. 1955-)
1996-2004 Deputy Minister of Minerals
and Energy Susan Shabangu
2004-09 Deputy Minister of Safety and
Security
2009- Minister of Mining
(b. 1956-)
1996-99 Deputy Minister of Public
Works Eileen E. Nkosi-Shandu
From 1999 Minister of Education and Culture of Kwazulu-Natal.
1996-99 Deputy Minister of Justice
Dr. Mantombazana E. Tshabalala-Msimang
1999-2008 Minister of Health
2003 Acting President (15.09)
2005-09 Member of the Pool of
Possible Acting Presidents
2008-09 Minister in the Presidency
Manto Tshabalala-Msimang
was appointed Acting Presdent when
both the President and Vice-President were out of the country. In 2003 the
President
appointed a pool of ministers to step in as acting presidents in his and his
deputy's absence.
(b. 1940-)
1999-2009 Minister of Communication
Dr. Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri
2003 Acting
President (on one or two occations)
2005-09
Member of the Pool of Possible
Acting Presidents
2008 Acting President (25.09)
Premier of the Free State 1996-99. In September 2008 she was
Acting Executive from the resignation of President Mbeki and his deputy until
the inaguration of his successor later the same day.
She lived (1937-2009)
1999-2001 Deputy Minister of
Public Works Buyisiwe Maureen Dhlamini-Nzimande
(b. 1952-)
1999-2004
Deputy Minister of Defence Nozizwe C. Madlala-Routledge
Fired by the president because of her opposition to the Minister of
Health, who thought nutrition can
replace treatment with anti-retroviral drugs against aids. Deputy Speaker of the
National Assembly 2008-09 and
Appointed Chairperson of the ANC
Parliamentary Caucus in the Assembly in 2009
but decided not to take up her seat in parliament.
1999- Deputy
Minister of Environmental Affairs Rejoyce Thizwilondi Mabudafhasi
1999-2009 Deputy Minister of Tourism
2009- Deputy Minister of Water
1999-2008 Deputy Minister of Justice
and Constitutional Development Cheryl Ellen Gillwald
(b.1956-)
1999-2005 Deputy Minister of Trade and
Industry Lindiwe Benedickta Hendricks née Ngwane
2005-06 Minister of Minerals and
Energy
2006-09 Minister of Water Affairs and
Forestry
(b. 1957-)
2001-04 Deputy Minister of
Provincial and Local Government Ntombazana G.W. Botha
2004-09 Deputy Minister of Arts and
Culture
(b. 1943-)
2002-04 Deputy Minister of
Home Affairs Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula
2004-09 Minister of Home Affairs
2009-
Minister of
Correctional Services
Her husband, Charles Nqakula, the former Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, was promoted to the most of Minister of Security. Nosiviwe has been appointed Chief
Whip of ANC earlier in the year.
2003-04
Deputy Minister of Arts, Science,
Culture and Technology Buyelwa Sonjica
2004-06 Minister of Water of Forestry
2006-09 Minister of Minerals and Energy
2009- Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs
2004-09
Minister of Education Naledi Pandor
2009- Minister of Science and Technology
ANC
Deputy Chief whip of the National Assembly
From 1994-98,
Permanent Deputy Chairperson of the National Council of
Provinces 1998-99
and 1999-2004 it's Chairperson.
(b. 1954-)
2004-06
Deputy Minister of
Minerals and Energy Lulu Xingwana
2006-09 Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs
2009- Minister of Arts and
Culture
2004-
Deputy Minister of
Foreign Affairs Sue van der Merwe
ANC Whip 1999-2000, Parliamentary Counsellor to
the President 2001 - 2004
2004-09
Deputy Minister of Social Development Jean Swanson-Benjamin
2005-09 Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Elizabeth Thabethe
2006-09 Deputy Minister of Correctional Services Loretta Jacobus
2008-09 Deputy President Baleka Mbete
Chairperson of the (ANC) Parliamentary caucus 1995-96, Deputy Speaker of the
National Assembly 1996-2004 and Speaker 2004-08 and ANC Chairperson from 2007.
When the President resigned in September 2008, it was expected that she would be
named Acting President for the period until April 2009, but this position went
to a man, who appointed her as Deputy President. Dropped from the cabinet in May
2009 (b. 1949-).
2008-09 Minister
of Health Barbara Hogan
2009- Minister of Public
Entreprises
2008-09 Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Fatima Hajaig
2008-09 Deputy Minister of Provincial and Local Government Nomatyala E. Hangana
2009- Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Maite
Nkoana-Mashabane
Member of the Executive Council for Housing and Local
Government in the Limpopo Province prior to her appointment.
2009- Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Tina
Joemat-Pettersson
2009- Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga
2009- Minister of Energy Dipuo Peters
Premier of
Northern Cape 2004-09.
2009- Minister of Social Development Edna Molewa
Premier of the North West Province,
2009- Minister of Women, Youth,
Children and People with Disabilities Noluthando Mayende-Sibiya
2009- Deputy Minister of Communications Dina Pule
2009- Deputy Minister of Correctional Services Hlengiwe Mkhize
2009- Deputy Minister of Economic Development Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinde
2009- Deputy Minister of Human Settlements Zou Kota
2009- Deputy Minister of Public Works Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu
2009- Deputy Minister of Social Development Bathabile Dlamini
2009- Deputy Minister of Tourism Thozile Xasa
2009- 1. Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Thandi Tobias
2009- 2. Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Maria Ntuli
Last update 10.05.09