Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula
The Honourable Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula MP | |
---|---|
7th Speaker of the National Assembly of South Africa | |
Incumbent | |
Assumed office 19 August 2021 | |
President | Cyril Ramaphosa |
Deputy | Lechesa Tsenoli |
Preceded by | Thandi Modise |
Minister of Defence and Military Veterans | |
In office 12 June 2012 – 5 August 2021 | |
President | Jacob Zuma Cyril Ramaphosa |
Deputy | Kebby Maphatsoe |
Preceded by | Lindiwe Sisulu |
Succeeded by | Thandi Modise |
Minister of Correctional Services | |
In office 11 May 2009 – 12 June 2012 | |
President | Jacob Zuma |
Preceded by | Ngconde Balfour |
Succeeded by | S'bu Ndebele |
Minister of Home Affairs | |
In office 29 April 2004 – 10 May 2009 | |
President | Thabo Mbeki Kgalema Motlanthe |
Preceded by | Mangosuthu Buthelezi |
Succeeded by | Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma |
Personal details | |
Born | Nosiviwe Noluthando Mapisa 13 November 1956 Cape Town, South Africa |
Nationality | South African |
Political party | African National Congress |
Spouse(s) | Charles Nqakula |
Alma mater | Canadian University Overseas Services, (Diploma in Project Management), College of Bensonvale, (Diploma In Primary School Teaching) [1] |
Nosiviwe Noluthando Mapisa-Nqakula (born 13 November 1956) is a South African politician who currently serves as the Speaker of the National Assembly as of 19 August 2021.[2] She has previously held the office of Minister of Defence and Military Veterans from June 2012 to August 2021.[3] She was also the Minister of Home Affairs from 2004 to 2009 and Minister of Correctional Services from 2009 to 2012.[4]
Early life and education[]
Mapisa-Nqakula obtained a teacher's diploma from the Bensonvale Teachers College.[citation needed]
Career[]
In 1984, she left South Africa to undergo military training in Angola and the Soviet Union. During this time she served as the head of a commission that was set up by the ANC to investigate desertions of ANC Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) members to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Angola.
For several years she worked with political military structures within the ANC and was deployed to help rebuild ANC structures.
In 1993, she became the Secretary-General of the ANC Women's League. Before her appointment as Minister of Home Affairs, she held the position as Deputy-Minister of the department.[5]
Following violent riots that occurred in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal in July 2021, she faced calls to resign as Defence and Military Veterans' Affairs minister due to the national defence force not being prepared for it. On 5 August 2021, president Ramaphosa reshuffled his cabinet, in which he removed Mapisa-Nqakula as Minister and replaced her with National Assembly speaker Thandi Modise. He said that Mapisa-Nqakula "will be redeployed to a new position."[6] On 19 August 2021, Mapisa-Nqakula was elected as Speaker of the National Assembly, effectively have swapped positions with Modise.[2][7][8][9]
Shortly before her election as Speaker, it was announced that Mapisa-Nqakula was under investigation for allegedly receiving a R5 million bribe from a defence contractor, blowing R7 million on aircraft charters and living it up at luxury hotels.[10]
Personal life[]
She is married to Charles Nqakula.
In July 2020, Mapisa-Nqakula and her husband tested positive for COVID-19. They have both recovered.[11]
References[]
- ^ "NOSIVIWE MAPISA-NQAKULA". Who's Who Southern Africa.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Ndenze, Babalo. "Mapisa-Nqakula voted the new Speaker of Parliament". ewn.co.za. Retrieved 2021-08-19.
- ^ "Changes to National Executive and South African Police Service" (Press release). Government of South Africa. 12 June 2012. Archived from the original on 2 April 2013. Retrieved 12 June 2012.
- ^ "Statement by President Jacob Zuma on the appointment of the new Cabinet". South African Government Information. 2009-05-10. Retrieved 2009-05-10.
- ^ "Welcome to the official South African government online site! | South African Government". www.info.gov.za. Archived from the original on 2010-12-04. Retrieved 2017-07-11.
- ^ "LIVE | Bheki Cele survives the chop as Ramaphosa appoints Thandi Modise as defence minister". News24. 5 August 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
- ^ "Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula is ANC's candidate for National Assembly speaker". eNCA. 10 August 2021. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
- ^ Makinana, Andisiwe (10 August 2021). "Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula chosen as ANC's candidate for National Assembly speaker". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
- ^ Mokone, Thabo (11 August 2021). "National Assembly to elect new speaker on August 19". SowetanLIVE. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
- ^ Masondo, Sipho. "EXCLUSIVE | Jets, hotels and wigs: MPs investigate graft allegations against Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula". News24. Retrieved 2021-08-19.
- ^ Etheridge, Jenna (17 July 2020). "Defence Minister Mapisa-Nqakula and her husband recover from Covid-19". News24. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
- 1956 births
- African National Congress politicians
- Correctional Services ministers of South Africa
- Defence ministers of South Africa
- Female defence ministers
- Female interior ministers
- Living people
- Members of the National Assembly of South Africa
- Ministers of Home Affairs of South Africa
- Women government ministers of South Africa
- Women members of the National Assembly of South Africa
- Xhosa people
- South African politician stubs