Dina Pule, Minister of Communications from South Africa
Ms Dina Deliwe Pule is one of the strongest leaders in the country with a deep sense of duty to her fellow citizens and a strong commitment to service delivery.
She is driven by a passion to see her community and the country achieve social development and economic growth. As the Minister of Communications, she is at the forefront of the government’s effort to make communication tools affordable and easily accessible to every citizen and making sure that local businesses are able to use these tools to be globally competitive.
Born outside Hazyview in Mpumalanga in Mhala District during apartheid, Ms Pule’s eyes were opened to gross social injustice by discrepancy between her lived experiences compared to the history lessons they were taught at school. This realization pushed her towards civil activism and she found a home in the policy directions of the ANC.
She was recruited by the underground structures of the ANC because her region was a gateway to Mozambique.
Ms Pule recruited and worked with a number of comrades while at school and college.
Her commitment to justice and the welfare of others saw her become one of the founder members of the South Africa National Students Congress. She was also a founder member of the then Eastern Transvaal Women’s Union in 1990.
Personal
Date of Birth: 19 July
Marital Status: Single
Current Positions
- Minister of Communications of the Republic of South Africa since 25 October 2011.
- Member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the African National Congress (ANC) since 2007.
- Member of the National Working Committee (NWC) of ANC.
- Member of the NEC Sub-Committee on Communications.
- Member of the NEC Sub-Committee on organisational Building and Campaigns.
- Member of the NEC Sub-Committee on Political Education.
- Member of the ANC Umrabulo editorial team.
- Member of the NEC Sub-Committee on Economic Transformation.
- Member of the NEC Sub-Committee on State Owned Enterprises and Development Finance Committee.
- Member of the NEC Centenary Media Sub-Committee.
- Member of Parliament of the Republic of South Africa since 2009.
Academic Qualifications
- Secondary School Teacher's Diploma from EC Mango College of Education.
- Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications from University of South Africa (UNISA).
- Certificate in Public Relations from PRISA.
- Incomplete Bachelor of Arts Honours Degree in Communications.
Career/Positions/Memberships/Other Activities
- Founder-member of the South African National Students' Congress (1987).
- Secretary of the Student Representative Council (SRC) at EC Mango College of Education (1987 - 1988).
- Deputy President of SRC at EC Mango College of Education (1988 - 1989).
- Founder-member of the Eastern Transvaal Women's Union (1990 - 1991).
- Regional Executive Member of the ANC Youth League (1990 - 1991).
- Branch secretary of the South African Democratic Teachers' Union (SADTU) (1990 - 1991).
- Provincial Secretary of ANCWL in Mpumalanga (1990- 1991).
- Provincial Treasurer of the SADTU in Mpumalanga (1991 - 1993).
- Branch Secretary of the ANC, Nelspruit (1997 - 1999).
- Chairperson of the ANCWL, Nelspruit (1999 - 2000).
- Member of Regional Task Team on Political Education and Political Education Officer (2000 - 2001).
- Deputy Secretary of the ANC, Ehlanzeni Regional in Mpumalanga (2001 - 2004).
- Member of the Legislature in Mpumalanga Province (2004 - 2005).
- Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Education, Culture, Sports and Recreation (2004 - 2005).
- Chairperson of the ANC, Ehlanzeni Region in Mpumalanga (2004 - 2007).
- Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Safety and Security in Mpumalanga (2005 - 2007).
- Deputy Provincial Secretary of the ANC in Mpumalanga (2005 - 2008).
- Chairperson of ANC Provincial list Committee (2006).
- MEC for Agriculture, Environment and Land Administration in Mpumalanga (2007 - 2008).
- Chairperson of the 2010 Mpumalanga Political Task Team for 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup (2008 - 2009).
- MEC for Sports Arts and Recreation in Mpumalanga (2008 - 2009).
- Deputy Minister of Communications of the Republic of South Africa (11 May 2009 - November 2010).
- Deputy Minister in the Presidency: Performance, Monitoring, Evaluation and Administration (1 November 2010 - 24 October 2011).