Buyelwa Sonjica

Buyelwa Patience Sonjica (born 23 March 1950[1]) is a South African politician who served as Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs from May 2009 until November 2010.[2][3]

Buyelwa Patience Sonjica
Buyelwa Sonjica at the World Economic Forum on Africa in 2010
Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry
In office
10 May 2009 – 1 November 2010
PresidentJacob Zuma
Preceded byLindiwe Hendricks
Succeeded byEdna Molewa
Minister of Minerals and Energy
In office
22 May 2006 – 10 May 2009
PresidentKgalema Motlanthe
Succeeded byDipuo Peters
Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry
In office
29 April 2004 – 22 May 2006
PresidentThabo Mbeki
Preceded byRonnie Kasrils
Succeeded byLindiwe Hendricks
Personal details
Born (1950-03-23) 23 March 1950
Nationality South African
Political partyAfrican National Congress

Early life

Sonjica received degrees from Vista University and Rhodes University.[1] She worked as a student nurse and a teacher.[1]

Politics

In 1976/77 she was involved in student politics in East London. She was active against the Apartheid regime in the UDF and SADTU when the African National Congress was illegal in South Africa. After the readmission of the ANC, she became active for it in Port Elizabeth.

Since the 1994 general election, Sonjica was a member of South Africa's Parliament. She was Deputy minister in the Department for Arts and Culture. In 2004, she was appointed as Minister in the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, in 2006 as Minister for Minerals and Energy,[1] and in 2009 as Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs.[2]

References
  1. "Buyelwa Patience Sonjica, Ms". Archived from the original on 30 October 2007. Retrieved 2009-05-10.
  2. "Statement by President Jacob Zuma on the appointment of the new Cabinet". South African Government Information. 10 May 2009. Retrieved 10 May 2009.
  3. WASH News Africa:Edna Molewa replaces Buyelwa Sonjica as Water and Environmental Affairs Minister, top officials suspended Archived 16 July 2012 at Archive.today, 2 November 2010
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