Thandi Modise

Thandi Modise (born 25 December 1959, Vryburg)[1] is a South African politician, and former Anti-Apartheid guerilla. She is currently serving as Speaker of the National Assembly of South Africa. She served as Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces[2] from 2014 to 2019.

The Honourable Thandi Modise MP
6th Speaker of the National Assembly of South Africa
Incumbent
Assumed office 22 May 2019
President	Cyril Ramaphosa
Deputy	Solomon Lechesa Tsenoli
Preceded by	Baleka Mbete
5th Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces
In office 21 May 2014 – 22 May 2019
Deputy	Raseriti Tau
Preceded by	M. J. Mahlangu
Succeeded by	Amos Masondo
Constituency	North West
4th Premier of North West
In office 19 November 2010 – 20 May 2014
Preceded by	Maureen Modiselle
Succeeded by	Supra Mahumapelo
Deputy Secretary-General of the African National Congress
In office 16 December 2007 – December 2012
Preceded by	Sankie Mthembi-Mahanyele
Succeeded by	Jessie Duarte
Personal details
Born	25 December 1959 Vryburg, North West Province, South Africa
Nationality	South African
Political party	African National Congress
Children	4
Residence	Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
Occupation	Politician anti-apartheid guerilla (formerly) farmer
Profession	Topographer
Cabinet	Jacob Zuma Cyril Ramaphosa
Military service
Allegiance	Umkhonto We Sizwe
Years of service	1970–1980
Rank	Commander and Political Commissar

She left South Africa in 1976 to join the African National Congress and received training in Angola. She returned to South Africa in 1978 as an Umkhonto weSizwe operative.[1] She was arrested and imprisoned in 1979, becoming the first woman in South Africa to be jailed for MK activities.[1]

She served as the Premier of North West from 19 November 2010 to 21 May 2014, when she was replaced by Supra Mahumapelo, also from the ANC, after the 2014 general election.

Animal cruelty charges

In July 2014, the NSPCA discovered a number of dead animals, including chickens, pigs, goats and geese, on a farm owned by Modise in Modderfontein, outside Potchefstroom in the North West Province. It was apparent that the animals had gone without food and water for more than a week, and 85 remaining pigs on the farm had resorted to cannibalising 58 dead pigs.[3] No workers were present on the property. North West Police confirmed on 7 July that she will face charges of animal cruelty in violation of the Animal Protection Act. She responded to the claims by stating that she was "learning"[4] how to farm, and that she had appointed a farm manager, but he had abandoned his duties to attend to a family matter.[5] Approximately four months later, it was reported that conditions on the farm had improved, that Modise's cattle had been receiving sufficient food and were in an "acceptable condition".[6]

References

1. "Thandi Modise". SA History Online. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
2. "Thandi Modise elected National Council of Provinces chair". TimesLive. May 22, 2014. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
3. "Thandi Modise could face criminal charges over farm horror". eNCA. Retrieved July 7, 2014.
4. "Today's top stories". Destinyconnect.com. Retrieved July 7, 2014.
5. "Modise to cooperate with SPCA". iafrica.com. Retrieved July 7, 2014.
6. "Better conditions at Thandi Modise's farm". The Citizen. Retrieved 21 January 2015.