Wednesday, June 13, 2007

South African Deputy President, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka: 'A True Leader of the People'

Mbeki praises deputy ahead of succession vote

Cape Town, South Africa
13 June 2007 06:53

South African President Thabo Mbeki gave his clearest indication yet on Wednesday of his preferred choice of successor, heaping praise on his official deputy, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.

Mbeki, who has previously said he would like a woman to succeed him when he completes his second and final term in 2009, told Parliament Mlambo-Ngcuka was "a true leader of the people".

Speaking during a debate in Parliament, he said the country's most senior female politician had shown her ability to exercise "effective leadership in what is still a predominantly masculine world" since her surprise appointment two years ago from the relative obscurity of her role as minerals and energy minister.

He also paid tribute to her "instinctive comradeship and ability to listen".

The governing African National Congress (ANC) is due to elect a new president in December, a position that is currently held by Mbeki and has traditionally been seen as a stepping stone to the post of head of state.

No one has formally declared their candidacy but Mlambo-Ngcuka is one of several names that have been bandied about, including ANC deputy leader Jacob Zuma, who was the previous deputy head of state before being sacked in June 2005. -- AFP

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Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Ms

Personal
Date of Birth: 3 November 1955
Marital Status: Married

Current Positions
Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa since 22 June 2005.

Academic Qualifications
Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Science and Education from National University of Lesotho (NUL) (1980).
Masters of Philosophy degree in Educational Planning and Policy (2003).
Gender Policy and Planning Development, Planning Unit, University College of London (1988).

Career/Positions/Memberships/Other Activities
Minister of Minerals and Energy of the Republic of South Africa (17 June 1999 - 21 June 2005).
Lecturer at the Impumalanga Teachers Training College, (1980 - 1981).
Teacher at Ohlange High School, KwaZulu-Natal (1981 - 1983).
Coordinator for Young Women Christian Association (YWCA), World office in Geneva working on global youth development issues (1984 - 1989).
Director of TEAM - a Development Organisations in Cape Town (1987 - 1989).
Director of World University Services - a funding agency ( 1990 - 1992).
Founder and Managing Director of Phumelela Services, a Management Consulting Company (1993 - 1994).
Member of Parliament and Chairperson of the Public Service and Administration Portfolio Committee (1994).
Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry (DTI) of the Republic of South Africa (1996 - 1999).
Founder member of the Guguletu Community Development Corporation (GCDC).
Member of the National Executive Committee of the African National Congress since 1997.
Former Board member of World Development Foundation.
Acting Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology (03 February 2004 - 30 April 2004).

Awards/Decorations
Honorary Doctorate, Witwatersrand Technikon (2003).

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