Summary
Pemmy Castelina Pamela Majodina (born 24 December 1968) is a South African politician serving as a Member of the National Assembly since 2019. A member of the African National Congress, she is the party's chief whip in the assembly. She was formerly a Member of the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature between 2004 and 2019 and a Member of the provincial Executive Council for five different portfolios from 2008 to 2019, respectively. Majodina was a permanent delegate to the National Council of Provinces from 1994 to 2004.[1][2]
Pemmy Majodina | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Chief Whip of the Majority Party | |
| Assumed office 22 May 2019 | |
| Deputy | Doris Dlakude |
| Preceded by | Jackson Mthembu |
| Member of the National Assembly of South Africa | |
| Assumed office 22 May 2019 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 24 December 1968 Sterkspruit, Cape Province, South Africa |
| Political party | African National Congress |
| Children | 9 |
| Occupation | Member of Parliament |
| Committees | Rules Committee |
Early life and education edit
Majodina was born on 24 December 1968 in Sterkspruit, Cape Province. She studied to become an educator.[3]
Political career edit
Majodina served on the regional executives, the provincial executives and the national executives of the South African Student Congress, the African National Congress Youth League, the African National Congress Women's League, the South African Communist Party and the African National Congress. She was also an underground operative of uMkhonto we Sizwe.[3]
Following the April 1994 elections, Majodina was sworn in as a member of the Senate (which became the National Council of Provinces in 1997). She served two terms in the NCOP until her election to the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature in the June 2004 provincial election.[4] She was appointed the Chairperson of Roads and Public Works Portfolio Committee after her swearing-in. Newly elected Premier Mbulelo Sogoni appointed her as the Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Health in August 2008.[5]
After the April 2009 provincial election, Noxolo Kiviet became Premier. She made her the MEC for Roads and Public Works. In November 2010, Kiviet moved Majodina to the Social Development and Special Programmes portfolio.[6] Phumulo Masualle was elected Premier after the May 2014 election. He appointed her MEC for Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture.[7] In May 2018, Masualle appointed her MEC for Public Works.[8]
After the May 2019 elections, Majodina was selected to return to Parliament as a Member of the National Assembly. The National Executive Committee of the African National Congress named her the party's chief whip in the National Assembly, and she assumed the position upon her inauguration. She is the second woman to hold the post and Doris Dlakude deputises her.[9][10][11]
Awards and accolades edit
Majodina was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in community development from the Arlington University of Australia in 2010. The next year, the Methodist Church of Southern Africa gave her their Reverend Baartman Award. In 2015, Reverend Jesse Jackson awarded her with a Global Humanitarian Award.[3]
Controversies edit
In April 2015, Public Protector Thuli Madonsela recommended that Masualle take disciplinary steps against Majodina after an investigation found that funds were misappropriated towards her during a visit to the United States in September 2012.[12] She later paid back the funds.[13]
In June 2023, Public Protector at the time, Busisiwe Mkhwebane, laid a complaint against three ANC MPs, Majodina, Richard Dyantyi and Tina Joemat-Pettersson with Parliament's Joint Committee on Ethics and Members' Interests. This came after Mkhwebane's husband alleged that Joemat-Pettersson approached him for a R600 000 bribe for the three to influence the outcome of the Section 194 Enquiry into the fitness of Mkhwebane to hold office; he also laid a complaint with the police.[14] The Committee cleared Dyantyi and Majodina saying the claim was unfounded.[15]
Personal life edit
Majodina has nine children, of which seven are adopted and two are biological. She is estranged from her husband. Majodina is a Christian.[3]
References edit
- ^ Ndenze, Babalo (21 May 2019). "For the first time, ANC caucus in Parliament to be led by women". EWN. Cape Town. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
- ^ Makinana, Andisiwe (21 May 2019). "'I won't allow ANC MPs to be lameducks,' warns party chief whip Pemmy Majodina". SowetanLIVE. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
- ^ a b c d "Political Profile of MEC Hon Pemmy Majodina". ecprov.gov.za. Archived from the original on 27 June 2020. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
- ^ Cele, S’thembile (27 May 2019). "New chief whip Pemmy Majodina plans to sebenza all the way". City Press. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
The chief whip will be making a comeback to Parliament, having served in the National Council of Provinces from 1999 to 2004 before making her way to the Eastern Cape government, where she was deployed in five different departments.
- ^ "Mbeki set to hold the E Cape". Pressreader (M&G). 1 August 2008. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
- ^ "Cabinet reshuffle for E Cape". IOL. 27 November 2010. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
- ^ "Statement by Mr Phumulo Masualle, Premier of the Eastern Cape, on the occasion of the appointment and swearing-in of Members of the Executive Council". Government of South Africa. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
- ^ De Kock, Rochelle (10 May 2018). "Masualle reshuffles cabinet". HeraldLIVE. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
- ^ Makinana, Andisiwe (21 May 2019). "Bhisho's Pemmy Majodina new chief whip in parliament". HeraldLIVE. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
- ^ Kiewit, Lester (20 May 2019). "Meet the ANC's new team for Parliament". Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
- ^ Head, Tom (21 May 2019). "Pemmy Majodina: ANC's new chief whip is as colourful as her wardrobe [photos]". The South African. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
- ^ "Public protector slams MEC Majodina". HeraldLIVE. 2 April 2015. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
- ^ Fuzile, Bongani (6 June 2015). "Guilty MEC pays back travel funds". SowetanLIVE. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
- ^ Gerber, Karyn Maughan and Jan. "Police open inquest docket after Joemat-Pettersson's death". News24. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
- ^ "Parliament committee clears Dyantyi, Majodina over Mkhwebane bribery claims".
External links edit
- Pemmy Castelina Pamela Majodina at People's Assembly
- "Ms Pemmy Castelina Pamela Majodina". Parliament of South Africa. Archived from the original on 27 June 2020. Retrieved 27 June 2020.*