Free State Provincial Government

Personal

• Date of Birth:  17 September 1957.
• Marital Status: Divorced

Current Positions

• Premier of Free State Province since 26 April 2004.

Academic Qualifications

• Matriculated with first class and exemption from Dr Blok Senior Secondary School in Heidedal, Bloemfontein (1975).
• Completed Diploma in Midwifery.
• Completed Diploma in Intensive Care Nursing.
• Completed Diploma in Operation Threatre Nursing Science.

Career/Memberships/Positions/Other Activities

• Worked in Johannesburg as a professional nurse (1977 - 1982).
• Worked at Pelonomi hospital in Bloemfontein (1986).
• Became involved in politics.
• Served in various Regional and provincial Committee Structures.
• Former member of the Health Workers Association.
• Former member of the South African Health and Social Services Organisation.
• Member of the Finance, Health and Public Accounts Portfolio Committees.
• Former member of the National Assembly (1994).
• Member of Free State Health and Welfare Transitional Facilitating Committee.
• Member of the Free State Community Health Committee.
• Founder member of the National Education Health and Allied Workers Union in Free State.
• Chairperson of the Reconstruction and Development Programme Portfolio Committee (1998).
• Chairperson of the Sub-Committee on Health Financing (1998).
• Former member of the Ad Hoc Committee on Surrogate Motherhood.
• Former member of the Ad Hoc Committee on Termination of Pregnancy.
• Former member of the Ad Hoc Committee on Equity Bill.
• Former member of the Equity Gauge Steering Committee (1999).
• Member of the Executive Council for Social Development in the Free State (2001 - 2004).

Awards/Decorations

• Recognition Award for Gender Equity for African Women Group of the American Society for Public Administration (2006).
• Recognition Award for Leadership from the American Society for Public Administration (2006).
• PMR Golden Arrow Award for Free State Leaders and Achievers, most proactive political figure in the province based on achievements in the past twelve months- Excellent (1st overall) (2007).