Nomvula Mokonyane is a South African politician who served as the Premier of Gauteng from 2009 to 2014. She is one of South Africa’s most seasoned female politicians who can best be described as a strong woman with a penchant for success.
Paula has earned herself quite a reputation and has gradually climbed her way through South Africa’s political ladder. Through thick and thin, we watched how Nomvula Mokonyane has been able to juggle family life and career as well as wiggle her way out of numerous scandals and rumors of scandals here and there. Below are some interesting facts about one of South Africa’s most determined female politicians, Nomvula Mokonyane.
All Important Facts To Know About Nomvula Mokonyane
1. She is the baby of the house
The seasoned politician was born on 28 June 1963 in Kagiso, Krugersdorp, South Africa. Currently 61 years old, she was birthed and brought up in a very large family with 12 siblings. The politician happens to be the youngest of the kids, making her the baby of the house.
Because of this, one would be tempted to assume that she probably had a lot of pampering and would probably grow up to be a spoilt brat but considering how much she has achieved in her education and political career, we know that Nomvula has done well for herself.
2. She is well-educated
A strong member of the Catholic Church, Mokonyane is a well-educated individual. She god educated from different parts of the world including Sweden where she trained in Local Government, Planning Management, and Community Development.
More so, she attended Wharton Business School in the United States, where she got a certificate in Emerging Economics. She studied Economics and Finance and got another certificate in the field at the Harvard Business School and also a Certificate in Project Planning. Finally, she got a Leadership and Governance certificate from the same university.
Before she attained all the aforementioned academic heights, she went to Mosupatsela High School, Kagiso from where she matriculated.
3. Nomvula Mokonyane is the first female Premier in Gauteng
Based on the South African general election, she is Gauteng’s first female Premier. She was sworn in as Premier on the 6th of May 2009 and she remained in office until 2014. NP as she is also referred to, was preceeded by Paul Mashatile and succeeded by David Makhura.
4. She enjoyed a successful marriage
The politician was happily married to Serge Mokonyane until his demise in April 2019. Even though there were rumors that the couple had separated at some point in their married life, Nomvula denied the allegations. The couple had children: a daughter and two sons- Retlabusa, Katlego, and Afrika.
5. It was politics that first broiught her and her husband
Her late husband, even before they got married had also always been involved in politics. They met in a political rally back in 1984 and Nomvula once shared a cute story on how they met while participating in a public protest. They were being chased by the police and when she tripped and fell, Serge helped her up and in her own words, he has never stopped lifting her up ever since then.
6. Nomvula Mokonyane has served prison time
Because of her involvement in political activities, right from young age, Nomvula was harassed and detained by apartheid police on numerous occasions. In later years, during the early years of their marriage, she was detained along with her husband where they both spent several months in jail.
7. She gave birth to her first child in prison
Sources have it that Nomvula got detained just two months after she conceived. She had her first child in prison and her husband did not have the privilege to meet his first child until the child was over 1 year old.
8. Mokonyane has had her fair share of controversies
Like most public figures, Nomvula has had her fair share of scandals as she was once accused of having a secret love affair with Jimmy Tau and a host of other younger men, Ben 10. Some of the allegations were made by Julius Malema.
She didn’t allow the allegations to bring her down as she saw them as a means for her opponents to score cheap political points. Some of these allegations came from her political opponents and she was also accused of misappropriation of funds and giving tenders to her young lovers.
She was also accused of recieving a monthly bribe of R50,000 from Bosasa from 2002 until 2016. According to the company’s former Operation’s head, the company did not get any benefit from the deal except for political protection. The former Minister of Environmental Affairs insisted there was no truth to the allegations against her. She claimed the allegations were made as a result of the hatred for her.
See Also: Cheikh Anta Diop- The Life and Death of the Senegalese Politician
9. She lost her first son
Sometime in November 2010, Nomvula’s son, Retlabusa was believed to have committed suicide in an apartment which he shared with his girlfriend. The young man was 23 years old at the time of his demise and was the first child of Nomvula whom she bore while in detention for political activism.
There were a lot of insinuations that Retlabusa had gotten into trouble with the police on several occasions and there were also reports revealing that he was convicted of car theft and possession of stolen goods.
10. Recognitions and offices held
She holds an honorary presidential position in SA-China people’s Friendship Association. She has served under 2 South African Presidents. She served as minister, Department of Water and Sanitation during the time of President Jacob Zuma in May 2014, and also as Minister of Environmental Affairs during the time of President Cyril Ramphosa.
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