New Ministers appointed

Know your Ministers

President Jacob Zuma has made more changes to Cabinet following Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma’s resignation to take up her position as chair of the African Union Commission in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Minister Naledi Pandor has taken over as Minister of Home Affairs, a department that has implemented a successful turnaround strategy and has seen improvements in the issuing of identity documents and passports. The former Deputy Minister of Science and Technology has become Minister.

Naledi Pandor Minister of Home Affairs

As one of the longest serving female ministers, Pandor served as Minister of Education from 29 April 2004 to 10 May 2009 and Minister of Sci ence and Technology from 11 May 2009 until her appointment on 3 October 2012.

Minister Pandor played a significant role in South Africa’s bid to host the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) and managed to secure 70% of the world’s largest radio telescope. The SKA will be based in the Northern Cape.

Academic qualifications

Minister Pandor matriculated from Gaborone Secondary School in Botswana in 1972. She holds the following degrees:

• a Masters in Education, from the University of London obtained (1979)
• a Master of Arts in General Linguistics from the University of Stellenbosch (1997)
• a Bachelor’s Degree and CCE from University of Botswana and Swaziland (1977)
• a Diploma in Education from the University of London (1978)
• a Diploma in Higher Education, Administration and Leadership from Bryn Mawr Summer Programme (HERS) (1992)
• a Diploma in Leadership in Development from the Kennedy School of Government, University of Harvard in 1997

Derek Hanekom Minister of Science and Technology

Minister Hanekom served as Deputy Minister of Science and Technology from 29 April to 3 October 2012. He also served as Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs from 1994 to 1999 and he was a Member of Parliament from 1999 to 2004. He worked abroad and in South Africa from 1972 to 1977 and was a full-time farmer from 1978 to 1983.

In 1986 he was arrested and served his sentence in Pretoria for political activities. From 1986 to 1987 he worked for an NGO providing support to trade unions and church organisations.

Academic qualifications

Mr Hanekom matriculated from Jan van Riebeeck High School in Cape Town in 1970. He pursued non-degree purposes studies in economics, land and agricultural policy and eventually enrolled for a B.Com degree.