South Africa Ministers

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 of State and South Africa Parliament

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
2009-12 Minister of Home Affairs
2012- Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union
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-)

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
2009-12 Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs
2012-14 Minister of Public Works and Administration
2014- Minister of Human Settlements

Lindiwe Nonceba Sisulu is 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, Deputy Governor of the National Reserve (National Bank) 1999-2004 and it's Governor from 2009. Chairperson of the banking group Absa 2004-09. (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. Under-Secretary General of UN, Executive Director of UN women from 2013. (b. 1955-)

1996-2004 Deputy Minister of Minerals and Energy Susan Shabangu
2004-09 Deputy Minister of Safety and Security
2009-14 Minister of Mining
2014- Minister of Women in the Office of the President

(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
2009 Acting Minister of Communication

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. She lived (1940-2009)

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
2004-07 Deputy Minister of Health
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.

1999-2014 Deputy Minister of Environmental Affairs Rejoyce Thizwilondi Mabudafhasi
1999-2009 Deputy Minister of Tourism
2009-14 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
2009-12
Minister of Correctional Services
2012-
Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs
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
2009-14 Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs

2004-09 Minister of Education Naledi Pandor
2009-12 Minister of Science and Technology
2012-14 Minister of Home Affairs
2014- 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
2009-14 Minister of Arts and Culture

2004-14 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
2014-17 Deputy Minister of Small Business development
2017- Deputy Minister of Tourism

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 from 2014 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
2009-10 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.

2009-14 Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Tina Joemat-Pettersson
2014-17 Minister of Energy
In 2013 she was in the running to become Premier of Nothern Cape in succession to Hazel Jenkins, but Syliva Lucas was appointed.

2009- Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga
Her full name is Angelina Motshekga Matsie

2009-14 Minister of Energy Dipuo Peters
2014-17 Minister of Transport
Premier of Northern Cape 2004-09.

2009-10 Minister of Social Development Edna Molewa
2010-14 Minister of Water
2010- Minister of Environmental Affairs
Former Premier of the North West Province

2009-14 Minister of Women, Youth, Children and People with Disabilities Noluthando Mayende-Sibiya

2009-10 Deputy Minister of Social Development Bathabile Olive Dlamini
2010- Minister of Minister of Social Development

2009-14 Deputy Minister of Communications Dina Pule

2009-12 Deputy Minister of Correctional Services Hlengiwe Mkhize
2012-14 Deputy Minister of Economic Development
2014-17 Deputy Minister of Telecommunications and Postal services
2017- Minister of Home Afairs

2009-10 Deputy Minister of Economic Development Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinde
2010-14 Minister of Public Works

2009-14 Deputy Minister of Human Settlements Zou Kota

2009-12 Deputy Minister of Public Works Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu
2012-14 Deputy Minister of Women, Children and Persons with Disability
2014- Deputy Minister of Social Development

2009-2017 Deputy Minister of Tourism Thozile Xasa
2017- Minister of Tourism

2009-14 1. Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Thandi Tobias

2009-14 2. Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Maria Ntuli

2012- Deputy Minister of Transport Sindi Chikunga

2014- Minister of Water and Sanitation Nomvula Mokonyane
Premier of Gauteng province 2009-14.

2014- Minister of Public Enterprises Lynn Brown
The country's first openly lesbian minister.

2014- Minister of Labour Mildred Oliphant
Assistant Speaker of the National Council of Provinces, 2004-04 and Chairperson of the ANC Parliamentary Caucus 2009-14-

2014- Minister of Small Business Development Lindiwe Zulu

2014-17 Minister of Communications Faith Muthambi
2017- Minister of Public Service and Administration

2014- Minister of Water and Sanitation Paula Mokonyane Nomvula

2014- Deputy Minister of Human settlements Zoe Kota-Hendricks

2014-17 Deputy Minister of Public Service and Administration Ayanda Dlodlo
2017- Minister of Communications

2014- Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Fatima Chohan

2014- Deputy Minister of State Security Ellen Molekane

2014-17 Deputy Minister of Police Maggie Sotyu
2017- Deputy Minister of Arts and Culture

2014- Deputy Minister ofInternational relations and cooperation Noma-India Mfeketh

2014- Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation Pam Tshwete

2014- Deputy Minister for Rural Development and Land Reform Candith Mashego-Dlamini

2014-17 Deputy Minister of Arts and Culture Rejoice Mabudafhasi

2014- Deputy Minister of Energy Thembi Majola

2014-17 Deputy Minister of Communications Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams
2017- Deputy Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services

2017- Deputy Minister of Public Service and Administration Dipuo Letsatsi-Duba

2017- Deputy Minister of Communications Thandi Mahambehlala

2017- Deputy Minister of Small Business Development Nomathemba November

 


Last update 01.04.17