Positions last held in government
Ms Buyelwa Patience Sonjica was a Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs of the Republic of South Africa from 11 May 2009 until 2010. Prior to her appointment as minister of Water Affairs, she served as a Deputy Minister of Arts, Culture Science and Technology of the Republic of South Africa from 2003 to 2004; Ministry of Water Affairs and Forestry from 29 April 2004 to 22 May 2006 and as Minister of Minerals and Energy from 22 May 2006 until 10 May 2009.
He was elected to Parliament in 1994. She also served on the first parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Arts and Culture from 1994 until 1997 and on the Portfolio Committees on Finance, Trade and Industry and Water Affairs and Forestry which she also chaired. She also served as an ANC Whip from 1994 until 1999.
Academic Qualifications
Ms Buyelwa Patience Sonjica attended Primary education and high school education in Port Elizabeth between 1967 and 1969. Thereafter she attended Higher Primary Teacher's course at Rubusoma Training College in 1977 and obtained Secondary Teachers Certificate from Vista University at Port Elizabeth campus in 1983. She also obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from Vista University majoring in English and isiXhosa and a Bachelor of Arts honours degree from Rhodes University majoring in isiXhosa. She currently studying towards a diploma in economics with the University of London.
Career/Positions/Memberships/Other Activities
Ms Sonjica was student Nurse at Livingstone Hospital from 1971 to 1972 and thereafter she taught at Phakamisa High School from 1979 to 1980; taught at Emfundweni Higher Primary from 1980 to 1992; and she taught at Dower Teacher Primary College from 1992 until 1994.
She was inspired by the Black Consciousness Movement and she became involved in student politics operating in the area of East London between 1976 and 1977. She also became involved in the activities of the Mass Democratic Movement including those of the United Democratic Front (UDF) and NEUSA, and became an active member of South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU) from its inception.
Having served in the BEC at Kwa-Magxaki in Port Elizabeth, she was elected for the REC of both the African National Congress (ANC) and African National Congress Women's League (ANCWL) respectively and the ANC RWC where she served from 1992 to 1994. She headed the Department of Arts of the ANC in the old Eastern Cape region.
Ms Sonjica was involved in both transformation of the arts and the development of the ANC policy under Wally Serote who was a national co-ordinator. She was elected to Parliament in 1994, and while there, she served in the first parliamentary Portfolio Committee of Arts and Culture from 1994 until1997.
She also served in the Portfolio Committees on Finance, Trade and Industry and Water Affairs and Forestry which she also chaired. She served as an ANC Whip from 1994 to 1999.
Source: Ministry of Minerals and Energy
