Tina Joemat-Pettersson

Tina Joemat-Pettersson (née Joemat; 18 December 1963 in Kimberley, Northern Cape) is a South African politician and the former Minister of Energy from 25 May 2014 to 31 March 2017. She was previously the Minister of agriculture, forestry, and fisheries from 2009 to 2014.[1]

Tina Monica Joemat-Pettersson
Minister of Energy
In office
25 May 2014 – 31 March 2017
Preceded byBen Martins
Succeeded byNkhensani Kubayi-Ngubane
Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
In office
11 May 2009 – 25 May 2014
PresidentJacob Zuma
Succeeded bySenzeni Zokwana
Member of Executive Council for Agriculture, Rural Development and Land Reform - Northern Cape Province
In office
May 1999 – May 2009
PremierDipuo Peters
Preceded byDawid Rooi
Succeeded byNorman Shushu
Member of Executive Council for Education - Northern Cape Province
In office
June 1994 – May 1999
PremierManne Dipico
Preceded byNew portfolio
Succeeded byGrizelda Cjiekella
Member of Executive Council for Education, Arts and Culture - Northern Cape Province
In office
May 1994 – June 1999
PremierManne Dipico
Preceded byNew portfolio in newly established province
Succeeded byBrian Hermanus as MEC for Sport Arts and Culture
Personal details
Born
Tina Monica Joemat

(1963-12-18) 18 December 1963
Kimberley, Northern Cape
Political partyAfrican National Congress, South African Communist Party
Spouse(s)Thorvald Pettersson (died 2006)
Children2

Early life

Joemat-Pettersson was born as Tina Monica Joemat on 18 December 1963 in Kimberley, Northern Cape where she attended William Pescord High School. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and History from the University of the Western Cape and Higher Diploma in Education from the University of the Western Cape.[2]

Political career

Joemat-Pettersson was active in politics from a young age as a political and labour activist while a student. She campaigned for the African National Congress in the new Northern Cape Province in the first democratic elections in April 1994 and was elected to the province's Legislature where she became a member of it cabinet as MEC for Education, Arts and Culture. At the time she was only 30 years old. She continued to serve as Education MEC for ten years and after 2004 was moved to the portfolio of Agriculture where she continued to serve as an MEC until May 2009 when she moved to the national parliament becoming Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. In May 2014 was appointed to the energy portfolio.[3][4][5][6][7]

She resigned from Parliament effective 31 March 2017, due to a cabinet reshuffle where she was replaced by Minister Mmamoloko “Nkhensani” Kubayi. She was the third fired cabinet minister to resign, after Dipuo Peters and former finance deputy minister Mcebisi Jonas.[8]

In December 2017, Joemat-Pettersson was reelected to the African National Congress' 80 member National Executive Committee (NEC) and in January 2018 the NEC elected her to the party's 20 member National Working Committee (NWC).[9][10]

Controversy

Joemat-Pettersson was found guilty twice[11] by the Public Protector, once in 2012:[12]

"However, Minister Joemat-Pettersson’s defence of ignorance of the costs involved, though accepted, is a cause for serious concern as she displayed a blank cheque attitude towards public funds. Her failure to concern herself with the prudent use of public funds in connection with her accommodation expenses in the said two instances failed to meet the requirements of paragraph 2 of the Executive Ethics Code read with Section 96(2) of the Constitution, which required of her to act in good faith, with integrity and in the best interest of good governance. Therefore, the conclusion that her conduct amounted to reckless use of public funds, was improper and unethical is accordingly justified,"

and a second time in 2014:[13]

"10.7 Regarding Minister Joemat-Pettersson's rejection of the request to defer her planned abrupt handover to the SA Navy an imprudent act which resulted in lack of proper patrols and alleged deterioration of patrol vessels amounting to millions of Rand in refurbishment costs and that this amounts to fruitless and wasteful expenditure and accordingly, improper conduct and maladministration, I intend to find that:
10.7.1 The Minister's rejection of a request to defer her planned abrupt handover to the SA Navy which led to alleged lack of patrols and deterioration of patrol vessels was imprudent and led to fruitless and wasteful expenditure and; 10.7.2 The actions of the Minister constitute improper conduct and maladministration,"

with remedial action suggested:

"11.2.1 The President 11.2.1.1 To consider taking disciplinary action against the Minister for her reckless dealing with state money and services resulting in fruitless and wasteful expenditure, loss of confidence in the fisheries industry in SA and alleged decimation of fisheries resources in SA and delayed quota allocations due to lack of appropriate research."

These were the major findings by the Public Protector[11] after a complaint was received from the Democratic Alliance's[14] Member of Parliament,[15] Pieter van Dalen. The Public Protector[11] is a duly appointed Chapter 9 institution which has the power to investigate and make findings against the Executive government of Republic of South Africa. To date Joemat-Pettersson has not answered to them.

Personal life

Joemat-Pettersson was married to Swedish businessman Thorvald Pettersson, who died in 2006. Together they had two sons, Austin and Terrence.

Offices held
  • MEC for Education, Northern Cape Province, 1994–2009
  • Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, 2009–2014
  • Minister of Energy, 2014-2017
  • Member Northern Cape provincial Legislature, 1994–2009
  • Member of the Parliament of South Africa, 2009–2017
  • Treasurer ANC Provincial Executive Committee, 2003
  • Member ANC Provincial Executive Committee Northern Cape, 1988
  • Member Northern Cape Provincial HIV and AIDS Council, 2000
  • Member Central Committee SACP, 1998
  • Member South African Democratic Teachers Union, 1992
  • Research Assistant to Head of English Department, UWC, 1990
  • Member ANC, 1989 to present
  • Member United Democratic Front, 1984–1986
  • Trustee | Mosiuoa Lekota children's Fund 2005–
  • Social Development and Community Services Chair - Northern Cape Province Rehabilitation Trust 2004–present
  • Teacher Pescodia Secondary School Kimberley, 1987
  • Youth Leader Oranjezicht Jewish Children's Home, 1988–1989
  • Member ANC Deployment Committee, Elections Committee and gender Committee [3][6]

Awards
  • Farmers’ Weekly best Agriculture MEC, 2006 and 2007
  • Human Sciences Research Council Merit Bursary
  • Ford Foundation Scholarship [4][6][16]

References
  1. "Statement by President Jacob Zuma on the appointment of the new Cabinet". South African Government Information. 2009-05-10. Retrieved 2009-05-10.
  2. "Home | Government Communication and Information System (GCIS)". Apps.gcis.gov.za. Archived from the original on 2014-10-15. Retrieved 2018-01-25.
  3. "Profiles New Cabinet Ministers". Pmg.org.za. Retrieved 2018-01-25.
  4. Staff Reporter. "Zuma's top ministers: A thoroughly mixed bag". The M&G Online. Retrieved 2018-01-25.
  5. "SA Cabinet and Deputy Ministers: Who are they?". People's Assembly. 2014-05-27. Retrieved 2018-01-25.
  6. "Tina Joemat-Pettersson | Who's Who SA". Whoswho.co.za. Archived from the original on 2018-02-04. Retrieved 2018-01-25.
  7. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2017-04-15. Retrieved 2017-04-14.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. "TimesLIVE". Timeslive.co.za. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  9. "Here is the ANC's new NEC". Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  10. "#ANCNEC elects NWC members". Iol.co.za. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  11. "PPSA Internet". Pprotect.org. Retrieved 2018-01-25.
  12. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-16. Retrieved 2016-09-09.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-16. Retrieved 2016-09-13.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  14. "Democratic Alliance". Democratic Alliance. Retrieved 2018-01-25.
  15. "Pieter Van Dalen | Who's Who SA". Whoswho.co.za. Retrieved 2018-01-25.
  16. "Every year a leading South African agricultural magazine conducts an annual informal survey to determine how efficient the agricultural MECs are at handling their respective provinces. Northern Cape Agriculture MEC, Tina Joemat-Pettersson, was the top-rated MEC for 2006 with a score of eight out of ten" (PDF). Journals.co.za. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
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