Derek Hanekom
Encyclopedia
Derek Andre Hanekom is the current South Africa
n Deputy Minister of Science and Technology. He has held this position since 2004 when he was appointed by President Thabo Mbeki
. He was reappointed in this position by President Kgalema Motlanthe in September 2008, and again by President Jacob Zuma
in May 2009 . He has a strong ANC history having served 2 years in prison for the work he did for the ANC, during apartheid, with his wife Dr. Trish Hanekom who served three years for her involvement.
He is also the former Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs
under the Nelson Mandela
government. Hanekom's tenure as of Minister of Land Affairs was reflective of his career in the anti-apartheid NGO Sector and was selected by Mandela because of his ability, as an Afrikaner, to negotiate with white land owners. Hanekom's tenure as minister was marked by an affinity for redistribution as opposed to retribution, and rights as opposed to property. This marks a strong contrast with his replacement by the Mbeki government with Thoko Didiza, a middle class ANC cadre. He is currently the chairperson of the disciplinary committee of the African National Congress
.
He has served as a member of the African National Congress
's National Executive Committee
since 1994; he was most recently elected in 2007
.
in 1970. He was first arrested with his wife, Dr. Trish Hanekom, at a candlelight demonstration at John Vorster Square in 1976, served a prison sentence for his political activities from 1983–1986, and was exiled in Zimbabwe
, where he served as a co-ordinator of the Popular History Trust in Harare
from 1988 - 1990.
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 Deputy Minister of Science and Technology. He has held this position since 2004 when he was appointed by President Thabo Mbeki
Thabo Mbeki
Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki is a South African politician who served two terms as the second post-apartheid President of South Africa from 14 June 1999 to 24 September 2008. He is also the brother of Moeletsi Mbeki...
. He was reappointed in this position by President Kgalema Motlanthe in September 2008, and again by President Jacob Zuma
Jacob Zuma
Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma is the President of South Africa, elected by parliament following his party's victory in the 2009 general election....
in May 2009 . He has a strong ANC history having served 2 years in prison for the work he did for the ANC, during apartheid, with his wife Dr. Trish Hanekom who served three years for her involvement.
He is also the former Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs
Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs (South Africa)
The Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs was, from 1996 to 2009, a Minister of the Cabinet of South Africa, with responsibility for the Departments of Agriculture and Land Affairs. The portfolio was created in 1996 when the positions of Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Land Affairs were...
under the Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing...
government. Hanekom's tenure as of Minister of Land Affairs was reflective of his career in the anti-apartheid NGO Sector and was selected by Mandela because of his ability, as an Afrikaner, to negotiate with white land owners. Hanekom's tenure as minister was marked by an affinity for redistribution as opposed to retribution, and rights as opposed to property. This marks a strong contrast with his replacement by the Mbeki government with Thoko Didiza, a middle class ANC cadre. He is currently the chairperson of the disciplinary committee of 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...
.
He has served as a member of 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...
's National Executive Committee
National Executive Committee (African National Congress)
The ANC National Executive Committee is the chief executive organ of the South African political party, the African National Congress. It is elected at every National Conference; the executive committee, in turn, elects a National Working Committee for day-to-day decision-making responsibilities.On...
since 1994; he was most recently elected in 2007
52nd National Conference of the African National Congress
The 52nd National Conference of the African National Congress was held in Polokwane, Limpopo from December 16 to December 20, 2007. It elected Jacob Zuma and supporters to the party's top leadership and National Executive Committee , representing a significant defeat for Thabo Mbeki, then the...
.
Personal life
He matriculated from Hoërskool Jan van RiebeeckHoërskool Jan van Riebeeck
Hoërskool Jan van Riebeeck is an Afrikaans high school in Cape Town, South Africa. It was founded in 1926 by J.J. Jordaan. The school is situated at the foot of Table Mountain right next to the historical Welgemeend in Cape Town...
in 1970. He was first arrested with his wife, Dr. Trish Hanekom, at a candlelight demonstration at John Vorster Square in 1976, served a prison sentence for his political activities from 1983–1986, and was exiled in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
, where he served as a co-ordinator of the Popular History Trust in Harare
Harare
Harare before 1982 known as Salisbury) is the largest city and capital of Zimbabwe. It has an estimated population of 1,600,000, with 2,800,000 in its metropolitan area . Administratively, Harare is an independent city equivalent to a province. It is Zimbabwe's largest city and its...
from 1988 - 1990.