Maite Nkoana-Mashabane
Encyclopedia
Maite Emily Nkoana-Mashabane (born 30 September 1963) is a South Africa
n politician. She has been South Africa
's Minister of International Relations and Cooperation since May 2009, taking over from Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma
. She is also a member of the National Executive Committee
of the African National Congress
(ANC).
Nkoana-Mashabane was born in Ga-Makanye, Limpopo
. During the apartheid era she was an activist in the United Democratic Front
(UDF). Nkoana-Mashabane went on to be appointed as South African High Commissioner
to India
and Malaysia. Her former husband, Ambassador to Indonesia
Norman Mashabane
, was recalled after being charged with sexual harassment. He was subsequently cleared by a foreign affairs inquiry and died in a car accident in 2007.
On her return to South Africa, Nkoana-Mashabane became Limpopo's Local Government and Housing Member of the Executive Council, winning a wide following in the province for her efforts to root out corruption in low-cost housing programmes and her hands-on approach to rural housing.
Nkoana-Mashabane was elected to the ANC's National Executive Committee in December 2007. She was the lowest scoring candidate to be elected to the Committee, winning the 80th and last seat on the Committee with 1,337 votes.
President Jacob Zuma
appointed Nkoana-Mashabane as Minister of International Relations and Cooperation on 9 May 2009. Zuma subsequently disputed suggestions that this was an unusual appointment in light of Nkoana-Mashabane's apparent lack of foreign policy experience, saying that "the ANC knows the strengths of this comrade" and noting that she was a member of the ANC National Executive Committee.
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. She has been South Africa
Politics of South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a unitary, parliamentary republic. The President of South Africa is both head of state and head of government; in the same manner as the prime minister of other nations, the President is elected by the National Assembly and must enjoy the confidence of the Assembly...
's Minister of International Relations and Cooperation since May 2009, taking over from Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma
Nkosazana Clarice Dlamini-Zuma is a South African politician and was an anti-apartheid activist. She was South Africa's Minister of Health from 1994 to 1999, under President Nelson Mandela, then Minister of Foreign Affairs from 17 June 1999 to 10 May 2009, under Presidents Thabo Mbeki and Kgalema...
. She is also a member of the 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...
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...
(ANC).
Nkoana-Mashabane was born in Ga-Makanye, Limpopo
Limpopo
Limpopo is the northernmost province of South Africa. The capital is Polokwane, formerly named Pietersburg. The province was formed from the northern region of Transvaal Province in 1994, and initially named Northern Transvaal...
. During the apartheid era she was an activist in the United Democratic Front
United Democratic Front (South Africa)
The United Democratic Front was one of the most important anti-apartheid organisations of the 1980s. The non-racial coalition of about 400 civic, church, students', workers' and other organisations was formed in 1983, initially to fight the just-introduced idea of the Tricameral Parliament The...
(UDF). Nkoana-Mashabane went on to be appointed as South African High Commissioner
High Commissioner
High Commissioner is the title of various high-ranking, special executive positions held by a commission of appointment.The English term is also used to render various equivalent titles in other languages.-Bilateral diplomacy:...
to India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and Malaysia. Her former husband, Ambassador to Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
Norman Mashabane
Norman Mashabane
Norman Mashabane was a former South African ambassador to Indonesia. He was born in Phalaborwa. He was recalled from that country after sexual harassment charges were laid against him...
, was recalled after being charged with sexual harassment. He was subsequently cleared by a foreign affairs inquiry and died in a car accident in 2007.
On her return to South Africa, Nkoana-Mashabane became Limpopo's Local Government and Housing Member of the Executive Council, winning a wide following in the province for her efforts to root out corruption in low-cost housing programmes and her hands-on approach to rural housing.
Nkoana-Mashabane was elected to the ANC's National Executive Committee in December 2007. She was the lowest scoring candidate to be elected to the Committee, winning the 80th and last seat on the Committee with 1,337 votes.
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....
appointed Nkoana-Mashabane as Minister of International Relations and Cooperation on 9 May 2009. Zuma subsequently disputed suggestions that this was an unusual appointment in light of Nkoana-Mashabane's apparent lack of foreign policy experience, saying that "the ANC knows the strengths of this comrade" and noting that she was a member of the ANC National Executive Committee.
See also
- Department of Foreign Affairs (South Africa)Department of Foreign Affairs (South Africa)The Department of International Relations and Cooperation is the foreign ministry of the South African government. It is responsible for South Africa's relationships with foreign countries and international organizations, and runs South Africa's diplomatic missions...
- Foreign relations of South AfricaForeign relations of South AfricaThe foreign relations of South Africa have spanned from the country's time as Dominion and later Realm of the British Empire to its isolationist policies under Apartheid to its position as a responsible international actor taking a key role in Africa....