Lulama Xingwana | |
---|---|
Minister for Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities | |
In office 1 November 2010 –26 May 2014 | |
Preceded by | Noluthando Mayende-Sibiya |
Succeeded by | Susan Shabangu |
Minister of Arts and Culture | |
In office 11 May 2009 –30 October 2010 | |
Preceded by | Pallo Jordan |
Succeeded by | Paul Mashatile |
Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs | |
In office 2006–2009 | |
Preceded by | Thoko Didiza |
Succeeded by | Tina Joemat-Peterson/Gugile Nkwinti |
Member of Parliament | |
Assumed office 1994 | |
Personal details | |
Born | 23 September 1955 |
Political party | African National Congress |
Lulama "Lulu" Marytheresa Xingwana (born 23 September 1955) is a South African politician who served as Minister for Women,Children and People with Disabilities from November 2010 to May 2014. [1] Previously she held the position of Deputy Minister of Minerals and Energy from 2004 to 2006,was Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs from 2006 to 2009,succeeding Thoko Didiza, [2] and was Minister of Arts and Culture,2009–2010.
Xingwana obtained a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of the Witwatersrand in 1985 and three postgraduate diplomas,one in Economic Principles from the University of Limpopo in 2002,and the other two in Development and Leadership Studies,and Rural Development from the University of Zimbabwe in Zimbabwe. [3]
Xingwana became a Member of Parliament after the 1994 South African elections. She is currently also chairperson of the Southern African Development Community's Regional Women's Caucus and director of the South African Council of Churches' Women's Development Programmes (1987). She has chaired the Joint Monitoring Committee for the Improvement of Quality of Life and Status of Women (2002–2004),the Parliamentary Women's Caucus (1999–2004),the Malibongwe Rural Development Project for Women (1998–2000) and the National Assembly Portfolio Committee for Sports and Recreation (1994–1999). She has been a tutor of Classes for Domestic Workers in rural areas and the suburbs of Johannesburg,as well as for Learn and Teach,since 1985. From 1999 to 2004,she was on the National Assembly Portfolio Committee for Defence. She was also on the ANC's Provincial Executive Council for Gauteng (1998–2001) and the National Assembly Portfolio Committee:Environmental Affairs and Tourism (1996–2004),Head of Development for the ANC Women's League (1991–1994) and a member of FEDSWA (1981–1991). Her membership to the United Democratic Front lasted from 1983 until 1991,and she has been a member of the ANC Women's League since 1993.
Xingwana has spoken of her opposition to the return of capital punishment in South Africa stating that "it is against our ethos of human rights" and the democratic values of the country. [4]
In her appointment as Agriculture and Land Affairs Minister,Xingwana caused controversy in 2007 when she accused white farmers of being cruel and inhumane towards their workers. She claimed that farmers regularly "rape and assault" their workers. These statements enraged many farmers,and two farm unions,AgriSA and the Transvaal Agricultural Union,challenged her to provide evidence that would support her accusations. The minister called for a meeting with the unions,but the farmers walked out in protest. Former President Thabo Mbeki was called in to resolve the dispute. [5]
In April 2009,a report in the newspaper Rapport repeated details found by one of its readers in a three-page Land Affairs document of a special mobile toilet,imported at R500,000,for Xingwana's exclusive use while handing over land in various parts of the country. Its specifications were said to include gold trimmings,but Xingwana's spokesperson denied the claim,declaring that,although Xingwana did indeed have a specially-reserved toilet,it was no different from those which played host to the hoi polloi. [6]
In March 2010,Lulu Xingwana stormed out of an art exhibition that she was attending in her capacity of minister of Arts and Culture,calling the work "immoral". The works included pieces by one of the most acclaimed photographers in the world,Zanele Muholi. [7] It was alleged by an anonymous insider that Xingwana had objected to the display of same-sex couples,but the official reason provided through her spokesperson was that "It was immoral,offensive and going against nation-building." [8]
In early February 2013,it was reported that Xingwana spent R2.1 million on refurnishing the department of Women,Children and People with Disabilities head office with new designer furniture. [9] Nearly half of that amount was spent on custom-made furniture for her own office. [10] Xingwana was accused by opposition parties of using public resources to indulge in her own "extravagant taste in furniture and overseas trips" instead of defending the rights of vulnerable South Africans,which her department is responsible for. [9]
On 26 February 2013,Xingwana stated on the Australian news channel ABC News:"Young Afrikaner men are brought up in the Calvinist religion believing that they own a woman,they own a child,they own everything and therefore they can take that life because they own it." [11]
After making the remarks,she was accused by civil rights organisation AfriForum of discriminating "on the basis of race,faith and gender",and that this was "an extreme verbal attack on the integrity of Afrikaners." [11] The Christian Democratic Party called for the president to fire her. The Afrikanerbond stated that her comments were an "extreme verbal attack on the integrity of Afrikaners" and speculated that she made the statement in an attempt to divert attention away from reports detailing mismanagement within her department. [12]
The following day Xingwana retracted her remarks and publicly apologised "unconditionally". [12]
Angela Thokozile Didiza is a South African politician serving as Speaker of the National Assembly since 14 June 2024. A member of the African National Congress (ANC),she was formerly the Minister of Agriculture,Land Reform and Rural Development between May 2019 and June 2024. She served an earlier stint in the cabinet between 1999 and 2008.
Nosiviwe Noluthando Mapisa-Nqakula is a South African politician who served as the Speaker of the National Assembly from August 2021 until her resignation on 3 April 2024. She was a cabinet minister from 2004 to 2021,including as Minister of Defence and Military Veterans between June 2012 and August 2021. She was an elected member of the National Executive Committee of the African National Congress (ANC) between 2002 and 2022 and is a former president of the ANC Women's League.
Dirk Cornelis du Toit was the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs of the Republic of South Africa from 1999 to 2009.
The second cabinet of Thabo Mbeki was the cabinet of the government of South Africa from 29 April 2004 until 24 September 2008. It was in office for the duration of Mbeki's second term in the South African Presidency,which lasted between the 2004 general election and Mbeki's resignation from office on 24 September 2008.
Lindiwe Nonceba Sisulu is a South African politician. She represented the African National Congress (ANC) in the National Assembly of South Africa between April 1994 and March 2023. During that time,from 2001 to 2023,she served continuously in the cabinet as a minister under four consecutive presidents. President Cyril Ramaphosa sacked her from his cabinet in March 2023,precipitating her resignation from the National Assembly.
Matsie Angelina "Angie" Motshekga is a South African politician and educator who is currently serving as the Minister of Defense and Military Veterans since 3 July 2024. She served as the acting president of the Republic of South Africa from the 17th August 2024,while President Cyril Ramaphosa attended the 44th Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Southern African Development Community in Harare,Zimbabwe. Motshekga also served as the Minister of Basic Education from May 2009 to 2024. She was previously a Member of the Executive Council in the Gauteng provincial government. Motshekga is a member of the African National Congress. She is a former president of the party's women's league.
Elizabeth Dipuo Peters is a South African politician who is the Deputy Minister of Small Business Development of the Republic of South Africa from 7 March 2023. She was previously the Minister of Transport from 10 July 2013 until 30 March 2017,in the Zuma administration,and former Minister of Energy from 2009 to 2013 having served as successor to Manne Dipico as the second Premier of the Northern Cape Province,22 April 2004 to 10 May 2009. A member of the African National Congress (ANC),she serves on the Women's League National Executive Committee. Dipuo Peters resigned as a member of parliament for the African National Congress in April 2017.
Zanele Muholi is a South African artist and visual activist working in photography,video,and installation. Muholi's work focuses on race,gender and sexuality with a body of work that dates back to the early 2000s,documenting and celebrating the lives of South Africa's Black Lesbian,Gay,transgender,and intersex communities. Muholi is non-binary and uses they/them pronouns,explaining that "I'm just human".
Bathabile Dlamini is a South African politician who was the President of the African National Congress (ANC) Women's League from 2015 to 2022. She was previously the Minister in the Presidency for Women from 2018 to 2019 and the Minister of Social Development from 2010 to 2018.
Lindiwe Daphney Zulu is a South African politician and communications strategist who served as Minister of Social Development from May 2019 to May 2024. Before that she was the Minister of Small Business Development from 2014 to 2019. A member of the African National Congress (ANC),she has served on the party's National Executive Committee since December 2007.
Pinky Sharon Kekana is a South African politician from Limpopo who is currently the Deputy Minister of Public Service and Administration. A member of the African National Congress (ANC),she has served in the National Assembly of South Africa since May 2014 and in the national executive since February 2018.
Makgathatso Charlotte Chana Pilane-Majake is a South African politician who served as the Deputy Minister of Public Service and Administration till 2024. She formerly held the same office between February 2018 and May 2019. A member of the African National Congress,she represented the Gauteng constituency in the National Assembly.
Elizabeth Thabethe was a South African politician and former trade unionist from Gauteng. She represented the African National Congress (ANC) in the National Assembly of South Africa for five terms from May 1994 to May 2019. Between 2005 and 2019,she served as a deputy minister in the national governments of four successive presidents. After leaving the National Assembly,she was special investment envoy to President Cyril Ramaphosa until her death in March 2021.
Pamela Tshwete is a South African politician from the Eastern Cape. She is currently serving as Deputy Minister of Human Settlements since August 2021. She has been a member of the National Assembly since 2002 and a deputy minister since 2013.
Noluthando Mayende-Sibiya is a South African politician and former trade unionist who was the inaugural Minister of Women,Youth,Children and People with Disabilities from May 2009 to October 2010. Before that,she was the first woman president of the National Education,Health and Allied Workers' Union from 2004 to 2009.
Jane Manganye is a South African politician who has served as a member of the South African National Assembly from May 2009 to May 2014,and again from May 2019 until May 2024. She was the deputy speaker of the North West Provincial Legislature from May 2014 to May 2019. Manganye is a member of the African National Congress.
Jacqueline Motlagomang Mofokeng was a South African politician. A member of the African National Congress,she served in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature from 1999 to 2019. In the 2019 national elections,she was elected to the National Assembly of South Africa.
Matthews Johannes Wolmarans is a South African politician who served as a Member of the National Assembly of South Africa from 2017 until 2019 and again from 2019 until 2024 as a member of the African National Congress. Wolmarans is also a former mayor of the Rustenburg Local Municipality.
Zoliswa Albertina Kota-Mpeko is a South African politician from the Western Cape. A member of the African National Congress (ANC),she served as Deputy Minister of Human Settlements between May 2009 and May 2019. She served six terms in the National Assembly of South Africa.
Makhosazana Abigail Alicia "Makho" Njobe is a South African politician who served in the National Assembly from 1994 to 2014,excepting a brief hiatus in 2009. She represented the African National Congress (ANC) until January 2009,when she defected to the breakaway Congress of the People (COPE). She represented COPE for her final term from 2009 to 2014. From 2009 onwards,she served the Eastern Cape constituency.