Current Positions
Ms Baleka Mbete was the Speaker of National Assembly of the Republic of South Africa from 21 May 2014 until 21 May 2019.
Positions last held in government
M Baleka Mbete served as a Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa from 25 September 2008 to 9 May 2009. She also served a Chairperson of the African National Congress (ANC) Parliamentary caucus from 1995; as President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union from April 2008 and served as a Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of South Africa from April 2004 until 25 September 2008.
Academic Qualifications
Ms Mbete Matriculated from Inanda Seminary in Durban in 1968; thereafter she obtained Teacher's Certificate from Lovedale Teachers' College in 1973; and obtained a Post graduate courses in Framework for Governance 1998; Basic Principles of Public International Law in 1999; International Humanitarian and Human Rights Law in 2000 and Theory and practice of conflict resolution in 2005 from with University of Cape Town.
Career/Positions/Memberships/Other Activities
Ms Mbete Taught at Isibonelo High School, KwaMashu in Durban from 1974 to 1975. She went into exile and while there, she taught at Matter Dolorosa High School in Mbabane, Swaziland from 1976 to 1977.
She joined African National Congress (ANC) in May 1976 and worked in the ANC's Department of Information and Publicity (Radio Freedom) and Women's section in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania from 1977 to 1981 She also served as member of the ANC's Regional Secretary of Women's section from April 1978 to October 1981; as a Public Relations for ANC in Nairobi, Kenya from 1981 until 1983.
She also worked in ANC underground political structures in Gaborone, Botswana from 1983 to 1986; as a Head of Medu Art Ensemble and member of the Southern African Arts Trust Fund from 1984 and she became member of the ANC Regional Women's Committee and Regional Political Committee in Harare, Zimbabwe between 1986 and 1987.
Ms Mbete was a Secretary to National Preparatory Committee for Women's section National Conference from April to September 1987; served as a Member of the Executive Committee in the capacity of Administrative Secretary in Lusaka, Zambia from 1987 to 1990; and became a Member of interim Leadership Core and member of Task Force of ANC Women's League between 1990 and 1991.
Ms Mbete became a Secretary-General of ANC Women's League and served between 1991 to 1993; Member of the ANC National Executive Committee (ex-officio) in the same period; as a Member of Panel of Chairpersons of Multi-Party Negotiating process from 1991 to 1994; and as a National Spokesperson for ANC Election Centre from January to April 1994.
She was also a Member of the Presidential Panel on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission since 1995; a Member of the Constitutional Committee and National Assembly in 1994; a Co-Chairperson of Theme Committee 6 and member of its Core Group from 1994; a Member of the ANC National Executive Committee since 1994 and a Chairperson of Sub-Theme Committee 6 from 1994.
Ms Mbete served on International Advisory Panel for Director General of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in 1998 and was a member of Advisory Board to Desmond Tutu Leadership Academy.
She also served on a UNIFEM panel of experts to assist in engendering the Burundi Peace Process 2000 and she Delivered conflict related presentations in South Africa and other African countries, sponsored by UNIFEM, Centre for Conflict Resolutions (CCR) and ACCORD and later
Led a Parliamentary delegation to 9th Congress of Pan African Women's Organisation Boksburg) in 2008.
She was a Member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) from 1997 and National Working Committee from 1998 and she was elected National Chairperson of ANC in Polokwane in December 2007.
She joined African National Congress (ANC) in May 1976 and worked in the ANC's Department of Information and Publicity (Radio Freedom) and Women's section in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania from 1977 to 1981 She also served as member of the ANC's Regional Secretary of Women's section from April 1978 to October 1981; as a Public Relations for ANC in Nairobi, Kenya from 1981 until 1983.
She also worked in ANC underground political structures in Gaborone, Botswana from 1983 to 1986; as a Head of Medu Art Ensemble and member of the Southern African Arts Trust Fund from 1984 and she became member of the ANC Regional Women's Committee and Regional Political Committee in Harare, Zimbabwe between 1986 and 1987.
Ms Mbete was a Secretary to National Preparatory Committee for Women's section National Conference from April to September 1987; served as a Member of the Executive Committee in the capacity of Administrative Secretary in Lusaka, Zambia from 1987 to 1990; and became a Member of interim Leadership Core and member of Task Force of ANC Women's League between 1990 and 1991.
Ms Mbete became a Secretary-General of ANC Women's League and served between 1991 to 1993; Member of the ANC National Executive Committee (ex-officio) in the same period; as a Member of Panel of Chairpersons of Multi-Party Negotiating process from 1991 to 1994; and as a National Spokesperson for ANC Election Centre from January to April 1994.
She was also a Member of the Presidential Panel on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission since 1995; a Member of the Constitutional Committee and National Assembly in 1994; a Co-Chairperson of Theme Committee 6 and member of its Core Group from 1994; a Member of the ANC National Executive Committee since 1994 and a Chairperson of Sub-Theme Committee 6 from 1994.
Ms Mbete served on International Advisory Panel for Director General of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in 1998 and was a member of Advisory Board to Desmond Tutu Leadership Academy.
She also served on a UNIFEM panel of experts to assist in engendering the Burundi Peace Process 2000 and she Delivered conflict related presentations in South Africa and other African countries, sponsored by UNIFEM, Centre for Conflict Resolutions (CCR) and ACCORD and later
Led a Parliamentary delegation to 9th Congress of Pan African Women's Organisation Boksburg) in 2008.
She was a Member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) from 1997 and National Working Committee from 1998 and she was elected National Chairperson of ANC in Polokwane in December 2007.
Source: The Presidency
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