Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, a prominent South African politician and military veteran, currently serves as the Speaker of the National Assembly, a position she assumed on 19 August 2021. Her extensive career spans over two decades in public service, encompassing roles in defence, home affairs, and health administration.
Before her appointment as Speaker, Mapisa-Nqakula held the position of Minister of Defence and Military Veterans from June 2012 to August 2021. She previously served as Minister of Home Affairs from 2004 to 2009 and Minister of Health from 2009 to 2012. Throughout her career, she has been recognised as a staunch advocate against apartheid and has been actively involved in reshaping the political and military structures of the African National Congress (ANC).
Mapisa-Nqakula’s educational background includes completing her schooling at Mount Arthur Secondary School. She holds a Primary Teacher’s Certificate from Bensonvale Teacher TRG School and a Project Management qualification from the Canadian University Study Program (CUSO). She has also completed specialized courses in Human Relations, Community Development, Communications, and Youth Leadership, and is currently studying Psychology at Newport College.
On a personal note, Mapisa-Nqakula is married to Charles Nqakula, a fellow South African politician who has served as Minister of Defence and Minister for Safety and Security. The couple tragically lost their son, Chumani Nqakula, in 2015 to an incident involving a close family friend.
Over the years, Mapisa-Nqakula has held several leadership positions within the ANC. She led a commission investigating the defection of Umkhonto we Sizwe members to the UNHCR in Angola and played a key role in political-military operations within the party. In 1993, she became Secretary-General of the ANC Women’s League and subsequently served as Deputy Minister of Home Affairs before ascending to ministerial positions.
Although she was replaced as Minister of Defence in 2021 by President Cyril Ramaphosa, Mapisa-Nqakula transitioned to the role of Speaker of the National Assembly, succeeding Thandi Modise. She was re-elected to the ANC National Executive Committee but did not secure enough votes for reappointment during the party’s 55th National Conference in December 2022.
Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula’s career reflects a blend of military discipline, political activism, and public service, cementing her status as one of South Africa’s influential female leaders.
Source: Source:
