Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula

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]

The Honourable
Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula
MP
7th Speaker of the National Assembly of South Africa
Assumed office
19 August 2021
PresidentCyril Ramaphosa
DeputyLechesa Tsenoli
Preceded byThandi Modise
Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
In office
12 June 2012 – 5 August 2021
PresidentJacob Zuma
Cyril Ramaphosa
DeputyKebby Maphatsoe
Preceded byLindiwe Sisulu
Succeeded byThandi Modise
Minister of Correctional Services
In office
11 May 2009 – 12 June 2012
PresidentJacob Zuma
Preceded byNgconde Balfour
Succeeded byS'bu Ndebele
Minister of Home Affairs
In office
29 April 2004 – 10 May 2009
PresidentThabo Mbeki
Kgalema Motlanthe
Preceded byMangosuthu Buthelezi
Succeeded byNkosazana Dlamini-Zuma
Personal details
Born
Nosiviwe Noluthando Mapisa

(1956-11-13) 13 November 1956
Cape Town, South Africa
NationalitySouth African
Political partyAfrican National Congress
Spouse(s)Charles Nqakula
Alma materCanadian University Overseas Services, (Diploma in Project Management), College of Bensonvale, (Diploma In Primary School Teaching) [1]

Early life and education

Nosiviwe was born in the then Ciskei homeland autonomous state along the southern-east coast line of the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. She was born into a Catholic family. Nosiviwe completed her secondary education at one of the oldest high schools in Mdantsane, Mzomhle High School under the tutelage of the then principal Mr Thengimfene. It would be in this high school that she embraced her keen interest in politics of South Africa. Mapisa-Nqakula obtained a primary teacher's diploma from the Bensonvale Teachers College.[5]

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.[6]

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."[7] On 19 August 2021, Mapisa-Nqakula was elected as the Speaker of the National Assembly, effectively swapping positions with Modise.[2][8][9][10]

Controversy

Since 2016, Mapisa-Nqakula has been involved in a number of controversies, including allegations of contravening health protocols and inappropriately using state resources.[11]

Shortly before her election as Speaker, it was announced that she was under investigation for allegedly receiving a R5 million bribe from a defence contractor, spending R7 million on aircraft charters and luxury hotels.[12]

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.[13]

References
  1. "NOSIVIWE MAPISA-NQAKULA". Who's Who Southern Africa.
  2. Ndenze, Babalo. "Mapisa-Nqakula voted the new Speaker of Parliament". ewn.co.za. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  3. "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.
  4. "Statement by President Jacob Zuma on the appointment of the new Cabinet". South African Government Information. 10 May 2009. Retrieved 10 May 2009.
  5. "Nosiviwe Noluthando Mapisa-Nqakula, Ms". South African Government. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  6. "Welcome to the official South African government online site! | South African Government". www.info.gov.za. Archived from the original on 4 December 2010. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  7. "LIVE | Bheki Cele survives the chop as Ramaphosa appoints Thandi Modise as defence minister". News24. 5 August 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  8. "Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula is ANC's candidate for National Assembly speaker". eNCA. 10 August 2021. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  9. Makinana, Andisiwe (10 August 2021). "Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula chosen as ANC's candidate for National Assembly speaker". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  10. Mokone, Thabo (11 August 2021). "National Assembly to elect new speaker on August 19". SowetanLIVE. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  11. Nkanjeni, Unathi (23 August 2021). "From alleged R5m bribe to 'smuggling a friend': Five scandals that have dogged Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  12. Masondo, Sipho. "EXCLUSIVE | Jets, hotels and wigs: MPs investigate graft allegations against Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula". News24. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  13. Etheridge, Jenna (17 July 2020). "Defence Minister Mapisa-Nqakula and her husband recover from Covid-19". News24. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
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