Arnold Stofile
Encyclopedia
Makhenkesi Arnold Stofile (born 27 December 1944) is a South Africa
n politician, and was Minister of Sport and Recreation from 2004 to 2010.
Stofile was born in Adelaide
in the Eastern Cape
. He studied towards a masters degree in Theology
at the University of Fort Hare
, and he also obtained a Master of Arts
from Princeton University
in 1983.
Stofile joined the African National Congress
(ANC) in 1963. He was charged with harbouring of terrorists by the Ciskei
government and served a three year jail sentence.
Stofile is also an ordained minister of the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa
Stofile was not only a politician and church man, but also a great sportsman. He played scrum-half and wing
for the Border Rugby team, and was a loud voice in the campaign towards non-racial sports.
In 1984 he travelled to New Zealand
where he led a successful campaign against the planned All Blacks
' tour of South Africa.
After the 1994 democratic elections, Stofile was the ANC's chief whip
in parliament. He held that position until his appointment as Premier of the Eastern Cape in 1997.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n politician, and was Minister of Sport and Recreation from 2004 to 2010.
Stofile was born in Adelaide
Adelaide, Eastern Cape
Adelaide is a town and area in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Population 12,000 . Adelaide is situated near the Great Winterberg Mountain range...
in the Eastern Cape
Eastern Cape
The Eastern Cape is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, but its two largest cities are Port Elizabeth and East London. It was formed in 1994 out of the "independent" Xhosa homelands of Transkei and Ciskei, together with the eastern portion of the Cape Province...
. He studied towards a masters degree in Theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
at the University of Fort Hare
University of Fort Hare
The University of Fort Hare is a public university in Alice, Eastern Cape, South Africa. It was a key institution in higher education for black Africans from 1916 to 1959. It offered a Western-style, academically excellent education to students from across sub-Saharan Africa, creating a black...
, and he also obtained a Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
from Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
in 1983.
Stofile joined the African National Congress
African National Congress
The African National Congress is South Africa's governing Africanist political party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in April 1994. It defines itself as a...
(ANC) in 1963. He was charged with harbouring of terrorists by the Ciskei
Ciskei
Ciskei was a Bantustan in the south east of South Africa. It covered an area of 2,970 square miles , almost entirely surrounded by what was then the Cape Province, and possessed a small coastline along the shore of the Indian Ocean....
government and served a three year jail sentence.
Stofile is also an ordained minister of the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa
Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa
The Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa was formed and constituted in 1999 as the outcome of the union between the Reformed Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa and the Presbyterian Church of Southern Africa .These two churches shared the same origin dating back to the 19th century...
Stofile was not only a politician and church man, but also a great sportsman. He played scrum-half and wing
Rugby union positions
In the game rugby union, there are fifteen players on each team, comprising eight forwards and seven backs . Depending upon the competition, there may be up to eight replacement players. Early games consisted primarily of forwards that attacked plus a handful of "tends" that played back in defence...
for the Border Rugby team, and was a loud voice in the campaign towards non-racial sports.
In 1984 he travelled to New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
where he led a successful campaign against the planned All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
' tour of South Africa.
After the 1994 democratic elections, Stofile was the ANC's chief whip
Chief Whip
The Chief Whip is a political office in some legislatures assigned to an elected member whose task is to administer the whipping system that ensures that members of the party attend and vote as the party leadership desires.-The Whips Office:...
in parliament. He held that position until his appointment as Premier of the Eastern Cape in 1997.