Dr Nkosazana Dlamini ZumaMinister of Health 1994 - 1999
Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma
Minister of Health 1994 - 1999
As South Africa's first Minister of Health after the historic 1994 democratic elections, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma led the creation of new health system within South Africa. Born in Kwa-Zulu Natal, Dr Dlamini Zuma matriculated from the Amanzimtoti Training College in 1967 before graduating with a BSc in Zoology and Botany from the University of Zululand in 1971.
She received her MB ChB from the University of Bristol in 1978 and served a two-year stint as House Officer, Surgery at the Frenchay Hospital in Bristol, followed by another two-year stint at the Canadian Red Cross Memorial Hospital in Berkshire.
In 1986, she received a Diploma in Tropical Child Health, School of Tropica lMedicine, University of Liverpool. During this time, her steadfast commitment to the ANC saw her elected to the position of Vice Chairperson, Regional Political Committee, Great Britain between 1978 and 1988, and she later became its Chairperson from 1988 to 1989.
Between 1980 and 1985, Dr Dlamini Zuma served as a Paediatric Medical Officer at the Mbabane Government Hospital in Swaziland before she returned to the UK where she served at the Wittington Hospital's Paediatric section between 1987 and 1989. During this time, she was also appointed as the Director of the Health Refugee Trust (Heart), Health and Development Organisation in England.
Dr Dlamini Zuma served on various ANC bodies and was elected to the ANC National Executive Committee (NEC).
She was appointed Minister of Health in 1994. Her leadership has been recognised by multilateral organisations and academic institutions alike. She was the Deputy Chairperson of UNAIDS in 1995, was inaugurated as the Chancellor of ML Sultan Technikon in Durban in 1996 and has been conferred with honorary Doctor of Laws degrees by the University of Natal in 1995 and the University of Bristol in 1996. The University of Transkei also awarded her with an honorary Doctor of Medicine (Honoris Causa) degree in May 1997.
In 1999, President Thabo Mbeki appointed her Minister of Foreign Affairs. Dr Dlamini Zuma is supported by her mother,Mrs Rose Dlamini and her four daughters - Msholozi, Gugu, Thuli and Thuthu.
Dr Mantombazana Edmie Tshabalala-Msimang
Minister of Health 1999 - 2004
A founder member of the ANC Health Department, South Africa's second Minister of Health Dr Mantombazana Tshabalala-Msimang has served in the health sector for over three decades. Born in Durban, she attended the Inanda Seminary where she matriculated in 1959. She graduated from the University of Fort Hare with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1961. She left the country soon thereafter for political reasons and completed her medical degree (MD) at the first Leningrad Medical Institution in the former USSR in 1969.
She received a Diploma in Obstetrics and Gynaecology from the University of Dar-Es-Salaam Medical School in 1972, and her Masters degree in Public Health from the University of Antwerpen in 1980. Dr Tshabalala-Msimang was in exile for 28 years, from 1962 to 1990. During this time her medical work included positions as Registrar in Obstetrics and Gynaecology and as a Medical Superintendent. She convened the 1st International Conference on Health and Apartheid, under the auspices of the World Health Organisation in 1980 and is a founder member of the ANC Health Department, which was established in 1977.
Upon her return to South Africa she was closely involved with the National Progressive Health Care Network in developing policies on health, and also served on various committees promoting health and gender issues. In March 1998, Dr Tshabalala-Msimang was appointed as Chairperson of the Gender Committee of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the ANCand as amember of the NEC'sCommittee on Policy Development and Safety and Security. She also serves as the Convener of the ANCWomen's League Policy Subcommittee.
She was Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Health in the National Assembly before her appointment as Deputy Minister of Justice in July 1996.
As Convener of the Steering Committee of the National Action Plan Human Rights she oversaw the development of South Africa's National Action Plan for Human Rights that was lodged with the United Nations on 10th December 1998 and convened the committee that prepared the first South African report on the African Charter in 1998. She was also active in the 1st Conference of Parliamentarians for Action of the African and Asian Countries on Population Development. Dr Tshabalala-Msimang was appointed as Minister of Health on 17th June 1999.
Dr Tshabalala-Msimang has two daughters and two grand children and is married to Mr Mendi Msimang, the Treasurer General of the ANC and the former South African High Commissioner in London.
Gwendoline Malegwale Ramokgopa
Gauteng MEC for Health
Gauteng MEC for Health Dr. Gwen Ramokgopa has held various leadership positions in student, youth, women and business organisations. Born in Atteridgeville, Pretoria, she qualified as a medical doctor (MB CHD) at Meduns a in 1989 and is currently studying towards her Masters in Public Health.
Her leadership positions over the years include being a president of the SRC atMendunsa, as well as Executive Committeemember of AZASO, later SASCO, SUCA, FEDTRAW, and SAMDP. She was a non - executive board member of NETCARE, served on the Black Economic Empowerment Commission as deputy chairperson and was also amember of the University Councils of Medunsa and Pretoria Universities.
Ramokgopa worked as medical officer at Garankuwa Hospital until 1992 and then joined the Independent Management Trust as National Health Programme Manager. In 1995, she was a member of the Strategic Management Team appointed by the Gauteng then MEC for Health, Amos Masondo, and also a Medical Advisor at the Gauteng Department of Health.
From 1995-1998 she served as Deputy Chairperson of the Executive Committee at the City Council of Pretoria. In 1998, up until her appointment as MEC for Health in 1999, a position she still holds today, she was Chairperson of the Standing Committee for Health in Gauteng. Ramokgopa is married with three children.
Sibongile Manana
Former Mpumalanga MEC for health 1999-2003
Millicent Ntombizodwa Sibongile Manana obtained a Diploma inGeneral Nursing from Themba Hospital (1983) and in a Diploma in Midwifery from Shongwe Hospital (1985). She received a degree in Nursing Science from UNISA (1992). Trained in management and Community Development and Family Planning, she also received a UNISA certificate for the Programme inWoman and Law.
As a student nurse at Themba Hospital, she rose to the position of district nurse with Emthonjeni Clinic in 1985 and then professional nurse at Embuleni Hospital in 1986. Between 1987 and 1994, she was a community health nurse with the then Transvaal Provincial Administration.
In 1994 she joined the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature as a member of the ANC and chaired the ANC caucus as well as the Health and Welfare Standing Committee. She served on a number of committees including Finance, Public Accounts, Economic Affairs and Gaming, Environmental Affairs as well as Prioritisation and Programming. She was appointed MEC of Health in theMpumalanga Provincial Government in 1999, and in April 2004 she was appointed into Parliament serving the Health Portfolio Committee, the Housing Portfolio Committee, the Water Affairs Portfolio Committee and the Joint Standing Committee of Improvement on Quality of Life and Status of Women.
Candith Mashego-Dlamini
Former Mpumalanga MEC for Health 1994-1999
Candith Mashego-Dlamini started as a teacher at Mshadza Secondary School. She has a secondary teacher's diploma, a BA degree and a BEd in Educational Management.
She is currently studying for a Masters in Public Administration with the University of South Africa. When Mashego-Dlamini was appointed MEC for Health and Welfare in 1994, the health sector in Mpumalanga was divided into the Transvaal Provincial Administration, the Bophuthatswana Department of Health, KwaNdebele Department of Health, KaNgwane Department of Health and the Lebowa Department of Health. Her key task was to manage the integration, rationalisation and transformation of all five departments into one by mid-1995.
Mantsheng Anna Tsopo
Former Free State MEC for Health 1999 - 2004
Before joining the government in 1996 Mantsheng Anna Tsopo served her community as a teacher and a council official. In her previous portfolio as MEC for Health, she continued to serve the community she grew up in. Born in the Free State, Mantsheng Anna Tsopo completed a diploma in Pedagogics at the University of the North in 1982 and is currently studying a Bachelor of Management and Leadership with the University of the Free State.
Tsopo also participated in the Executive Programme for Leadership in Development at Harvard University in America in June 1998. Tsopo worked as a teacher in two high schools in the Free State from 1983 to 1986. She worked at the Masilo Town Council from 1988 to 1993. In 1994, she joined government and has since been deployed in various portfolios as the MEC for Local Government and Housing, MEC for Welfare, Sports, Arts and Culture and then MEC for Social Welfare until June 1999. She served as Leader of the House from January 1997 to June 1999.
Elizabeth Dipuo Peters
Northern Cape MEC for Health 1999 - 2004
Former Northern Cape MEC for Health, Elizabeth Dipuo Peters has a long history of advocacy of women’s rights and a track record of delivery in serving her community. Elizabeth Dipuo Peters attended the University of the North and obtained her BA Degree (SocialWork) in 1987. During that year she worked as a volunteer regional organiser for the South African Domestic Workers Union. Between 1987 and 1990 Ms Peters held the position of Head of Women's Department at the South African Youth Congress. In 1990 she joined the African National Congress Youth League, as the secretary forWomen Affairs.
As from 1992 to 1994 she worked as a social worker for the NCCR where she liased with other organisations on behalf of the Committee in the Northern Cape, administering grants for the disabled, aged and unaccompanied minors, and proposing and implementing service plans for individuals and groups of returnees.
Between 1994 and 1997 she was a member of parliament (National Assembly) and was responsible for the Northern Cape and ANC membership/Caucus Register. Before being appointed as the MEC for Health, Ms Peters was the ANC Chief Whip at the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature, as well as the ANC Northern Cape Provincial Treasurer. She was appointed NorthernCape Premier in April 2004.
Mmathulare Elsie Coleman
Former Mpumalanga MEC for Health 2003 - 2004
Currently studying for a BA Degree in Political Science through the University of South Africa (UNISA) Mmathulare Elsie Coleman has a certificate in Community and Women Development, a certificate in Public Relations and was trained in military secret communications in the USSR.
In 1992 she headed the Eastern TVL ANC Health and Welfare Desk before joining the provincial legislature as an ANC representative between 1994 and 1999. As a member of the provincial legislature, she participated in several portfolio committees including the Portfolio Committee on Local Government, Housing and Land (Chairperson), the Portfolio Committee on Rules, the Portfolio Committee on Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, Internal Arrangements, the Portfolio Committee on Programming and Priorization. In 1998/99, Coleman served on the Committee on Public Accounts (Alternate) as ANC whip. She was appointed MEC for Social Services, Population and Development in 1999 and served there until she was appointed Mpumalanga MEC for Health. In April 2004 she was appointed Mpumalanga MEC for Finance. She ismarried with a daughter.
Olive Shisana
DirectorGeneral ofHealth 1995 - 1998
Now an Executive Director of a South African national research programme on Social Aspects of HIV and AIDS and Health at the Human Sciences Research Council, the founder of the programme, Dr Olive Shishana was the first African and first woman to be appointed to the post of Director General in post-apartheid South Africa when she took up the position in 1994.
Dr Shisana matriculated from Lemana High School in Louis Trichardt in 1970 before studying at the Univesity of the North where she majored in psychology and social work in 1973. She completed a Master of Arts at Loyola College in Baltimore, Maryland before joining the University of South Florida as a doctoral student in clinical psychology. In 1984, she received a Doctor of Science (Sc.D), from Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health, Department of Behavioral Sciences, Area of Specialty: Social Epidemiology.
Before joining the HSRC, Dr Shisana served as Professor of Health Systems at the National School of Public Health at theMedical University of Southern Africa, where she was a leading founder of a post-graduate diploma on the management of HIV and AIDS in the world of work, launched by the South African Deputy President in 2001. From July 1998 until July 2000, she served as Executive Director of Family and Community Health at theWorld Health Organization inGeneva. From June 1995 until June 1998, she served as Department of Health Director General overseeing the transformation of the public and private health sector. She has had numerous articles published in peer reviewed journals, books and special reports and has presented at international scientific conferences.
She has written on, among other subjects, HIV and AIDS including AIDS: a human security issue, history of public health in South Africa, financing of health services in South Africa. She was a principal investigator on the Mandela/HSRC study of HIV and AIDS, which is the first systematic national HIV and AIDS prevalence, behavioural risks and mass media impact survey, social and cultural determinants of South Africans, HIV prevalence and the impact of mass media on HIV prevalence in South Africa.
She was the principal investigator of another national survey of HIV prevalence among health workers, ambulatory and hospitalised patients in South Africa, which examined the impact of HIV and AIDS on South Africa's health care system. Dr Shishana has served on various national and international committees and has received numerous awards.
Mmathari Kelebogile Matsau
Deputy Director-General : Strategic Health Programmes
As the deputy director overseeing strategic health programmes, Mmathari Matsau's is on delivery of priority health programmes that answer to the defined strategic direction of the health care delivery system. These programmes include quality in health care, a district-based health system, control of communicable diseases, access to medicines, disease surveillance and information systems, monitoring of the health system, gender mainstream programme, reproductive health, mental health, and international relations in health.
In short, her mandate is to drive improved access to health and it is one she is well-placed to fulfil.
Mmathari Matsau obtained a BSc degree from the National University of Lesotho in 1977 and a Masters degree in Community Health from the Liverpool School of TropicalMedicine, UK, in 1980. In 1983 she obtained a post-graduate Diploma in Management from the University of Connecticut in Hartford, USA, and in 1989 a Diploma in Financial Management with the Management Advisors London in association with theUniversity of London.
For 15 years, from 1977 to 1992, she worked for the Health Planning and Statistics Division of the Department of Health in Lesotho heading the department during the last five years.
She then returned to South Africa and worked as Executive director the Association of Black Accountants of Southern Africa.
In June 1995, she was appointed by Health Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Chief Director for Operational and Technical Policy, principally responsible for development of policy norms and standards for different areas in the provision of health care.
When the department was restructured in 1997, she took up a slightly broader area of responsibility to include health information systems, health monitoring and surveillance, and research. As a result of the restructuring, the chief directorate was changed to Health Information, Evaluation and Research.
In June 2000 she was appointed Deputy Director-General for the branch StrategicHealth Programmes, a position she still holds today. Ms Matsau serves on the Board of the Medical Research Council, and internationally, she sits on the Board of International e-Health Association. She is a member of the American Public Health Association, and the International Society for Quality Assurance.
Kamy Chetty
Deputy Director-General: Health Service Delivery
Health service delivery in the public health sector has been a defining focus in the career and life of deputy director general Dr KS Chetty. Dr Chetty obtained a MB.ChB degree from the University of Natal Medical School in 1984 and a Master of Science in Urban and Regional Planning (MSc URP) from the same University in 1992. In 1993 she obtained her specialist degree in Public Health and was accorded Fellow of the Faculty of Community Health of South Africa at the College of Medicine. After serving her internship at King Edward Hospital, Durban, in 1985/86, she remained at the hospital as a MedicalOfficer/ Junior Registrar.
From 1987 to 1989 she was Primary Health Care Coordinator and National Organiser for the National Medical and Dental Association (NAMDA) and left to serve as a specialist in training in the Department of Community Health, University of Cape Town , until 1994. She was then seconded to the ANC Health Department, Head Office, where she played a key role in the drafting of the ANCHealth Plan during 1993/94.
Dr Chetty was initially appointed as a member of the Strategic Management Team and then as Chief Director in the Department of Economic Affairs and RDP - Western Cape. As such, she was responsible for the co-ordination of the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) in theWesternCape until 1997.
She left to join the Gauteng Health Department as Deputy Director General and, as such, was responsible for the Health Service Delivery Branch. In addition, she acted as Head of Department on numerous occasions, and represented theHODand MEC in a number of forums. Dr Chetty joined the National Department of Health on July 1, 2000 and she serves as Deputy Director-General: Health Service Delivery where she has an overall responsibility with regard to the development of policy for the provision and management of hospital services, health technology, radiation control and emergencymedical services.
Latitia Rispel
Gauteng Department Head of Health
Dr Laetitia Rispel was appointed as the Head of Department of the Gauteng Department of Health in March 2001. Her career in the health sector spans many years, from her days as a student at the University of Cape Town in the eighties, her training at Groote Schuur and other hospitals and her work at the Red Cross children's Hospital, to the years she spent as a researcher at the Centre forHealth Policy.
It was her experiences at Groote Schuur Hospital which led Dr Rispel to get involved in progressive, anti-apartheid health organizations, and which have strengthened her commitment to transformation and equity. She has been in the Department of Health since September 1996, working in various capacities. From September 1996 until March 1999, she was the ChiefDirector for Strategicmanagement.
In April 1999, she took over the task of transforming hospital services in Gauteng. In August 2000, she was appointed Chief of Operations. At a formal level, Dr. Laetitia Rispel has a doctor of Philosophy degree, a Master's degree in community health, and an honours degree in epidemiology and statistics.
In August 2002, she completed a senior executive management programme at Harvard University in Boston, in conjunction with the Wits Business School. In 2003 she was named Shoprite CheckersWoman of the Year in theHealth Division.
H Nelly Manzini - Limpopo Department Head of Health
With her academic background focusing on General Nursing, Midwifery, Nursing Administration, Community Health Nursing, and Nursing Education, Dr. Manzini provides strategic leadership and management in the transformation and co-ordination of the health services as Limpopo Head of Department. Her tertiary educational focus was on Health Care with Diplomas in Nursing Administration, Midwifery and GeneralNursing in South Africa and a Diploma in Primary Health Care Education and Development (Unit II Management of PHC) from London University in 1993 in addition to her BA and MA.
Dr Manzini obtained her Doctorate in Literature and Philosophy at UNISA in September 1998. In August 2001 she completed a Senior Executive Programme for Southern Africa offered by WITS Business School and Harvard Business School. Formerly Regional Director of the Central Region (October 1998 to June 2000) she has presented numerous health-related papers and has contributed to a number ofHealth andWelfare -related publications.
She has been involved in Community and Social Activities, working with women and youth in the field of motivation and team building. A widowedmother of three, she speaks, reads and understands Tsonga, English, and Afrikaans and speaks and understands Pedi, Sotho, Tswana, Zulu, Xhosa and Venda.
Daisy Mafubelu
Health Attaché - Permanent Mission of South Africa to the UN.
It has been a long journey from Acornhoek, Limpopo, where Daisy Mafubelu was born in 1959 to the United Nations. But, as the current Health Attaché at the Permanent Mission of South Africa to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva, Mafubelu has always served the health sector with pride.
Initially trained as a nurse, Mafubelu holds degrees in nursing (UNISA) and a degree in Business Administration (Stellenbosch University). She obtained several diplomas including a post-graduate diploma in Health Management (UCT). After spending 13 years in the nursing field, she was appointed a member of the Strategic Management Team of the Free State Health Department in 1994.
She has since held several senior management positions, the latest being that of Deputy Director-General. Mafubelu has received several awards including being named Oliver Tambo Fellow in Public Health Leadership in 1997, an award made in recognition of outstanding potential and commitment to provide leadership through public health service towards improving health and health care for all South Africans.
In 1999 she received a certificate of recognition from the University of the Free State for contributing towards initiating and developing the Free State Goldfields Management and Development Programme. She also served as amember of the Board of Directors for the same programme and of the Board of Patrons of the University of the Free State School of Management. She is also the coordinator of the African group on health matters in Geneva.Mafubelu is amother of four and a proud grandmother of one.
Nobayeni Dladla
Health Representative Embassy of South Africa -Washington DC
South Africa's health representative in Washington DC, Nobayeni Dladla, began her journey when she acquired her BA in Sociology and Public Administration at the National University of Lesotho. In 1984 she received a postgraduate certificate in Business Management from the Wits School of Business Administration. She then went on to obtain her Masters from the University of Massachusetts in Boston, USA.
During her educational years, Dladla was appointed by the then Minister of Agriculture to chair an expert committee on Food Security and Nutrition.
In August 1989, she joined the Botswana Red Cross where she developed a volunteer development programme, gave support in developing training programmes for volunteers and initiated fund-raising drives. In 1993 she was contracted to be the co-ordinator for Nutrition in the Drought Forum, which included broad consultation on nutrition issues within NGOs.
Consulting with the national Department of Health from 1994, she managed the process of policy formulation and stakeholder consultation. In August of 1995 Dladla was appointed Director of Nutrition. There she established the national Nutrition Directorate and supported the establishment of the provincial nutrition structures through the Integrated Nutrition Programme. She also managed the Conditional Grant budget and the Poverty Relief Programme. In January 2000, she was appointed Chief Director Social Sector. Since October 2002, Dladla has been the Health Representative at the Embassy of South Africa in Washington DC.
Catherine Makwakwa - Director: International Health Liaison
Since her days as a student nurse in 1965 at the HF Verwoerd Hospital in Pretoria, Catherine Makwakwa has had a passion for the training and development of nursing professionals in South Africa. Her nursing career started at the George Stedman Hospital in Rustenburg where she was in charge of the female Medical and Surgical ward. She took a year off to study midwifery then rejoined HF Verwoerd Hospital in Pretoria.
She completed her Diploma in Nursing Education at the University of the North and in 1973, joined Garankuwa Nursing College as a Senior Professional Nurse, lecturing to Nursing Diploma students at all year levels. In 1976 she was promoted to Chief Professional Nurse and, as a Senior Tutor, lectured General Nursing Science. Makwakwa was also involved with a number of community projects including organising the international celebration of health related days such as the Health Year of theChild and Year of the Youth.
During her tenure, she held various posts including chairperson within the Pretoria African branch of the SA Nursing Association. In 1992, Makwakwa was appointed Chief Nursing Service Manager in the International Health Liaison Directorate, responsible for liaison activities in local and international organisations in Africa and South Africa. This included managing the Technical Aid Programmes ofMalawi, Lesotho, Mozambique and Swaziland. In that same year, Makwakwa was appointed, to serve as a member of the South African Nursing Council. In 1996 she was again appointed a member of the South African Interim NursingCouncil where she served on its Education Committee.
Following a short stint in 1996 as Deputy Director: International Health Liaison, Makwakwa was appointed Director: International Health Liaison.
Patricia Anne Lambert
Advocate Patricia Anne Lambert was born 50 years ago in Springs, Gauteng. She attended school in Mpumalanga and Pretoria. She holds degrees in Arts, Education and Law from the Universities of Rhodes in the Eastern Cape; Pretoria; and Cape Town, as well as from the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne in the United Kingdom.
Patricia has worked in the theatre, as a schoolteacher, as a college lecturer and as an educational researcher. During the 1980s, a deeply troubled time in South Africa as a whole, and in the education sector in particular, feeling frustrated and powerless to make any significant changes in the apartheid system of education, Patricia decided to return to University in order to read law. She completed her legal training in 1993 and was admitted as an Advocate in the High Court of South Africa. Her areas of specialty include Constitutional Law, Human Rights Law, Labour Law, Health Law, Intellectual Property Law and Public International Law.
From 1997 to 1999, Patricia worked as a consultant in the Ministry of Justice. There her tasks included working on the equality legislation, the sexual offences legislation and the National Action Plan for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, which was lodged with the United Nations on the 10th December 1998. Since 1999, Patricia has worked as the Legal Adviser to the South African Minister of Health, DrME Tshabalala-Msimang. In her capacity as an adviser to the Minister of Health, Patricia has worked on legal and policy issues relating to access to affordable medicines, intellectual property and healthcare, the health of women and children, health and human rights, partnerships between the private and public sector in the field of health and tobacco control. From October 2000 until May 2003, Patricia took the role of the chief negotiator for the South African government in the negotiator for the South African government in the negotiations for the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). This is the world's first public health Convention. TheMinister of Health, on behalf of South Africa, signed the Convention on the first day that it opened for signature the 16th June 2003. It is hoped that theConvention will be ratified by the end of 2004.
Patricia is passionate about her work, and very proudly South African. She regards it as a privilege and an honour to serve the citizens of South Africa, in whatever way she can. When not working, Patricia is an avid reader and a keen gardener. Her favourite book is The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa.
Chief Directors in the National Department:
Chief Directors in Provincial Departments: