Thoko Didiza

**Angela Thokozile Didiza** (née Msane; born 2 June 1965) be a South African politician serve as Speaker of de National Assembly since 14 June 2024. A member of de African National Congress (ANC), she formerly be de Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform den Rural Development between May 2019 den June 2024. She serve an earlier stint insyd de cabinet between 1999 den 2008.

Didiza enter politics through anti-apartheid activism, initially insyd Christian organisations den women ein groups. She be de inaugural secretary-general of de Women ein National Coalition from 1992 to 1994. She be elected to de first post-apartheid Parliament as a nominee of de ANC Youth League insyd 1994, den she join Nelson Mandela ein Government of National Unity as Deputy Minister of Agriculture from 1994 to 1999. A political ally of Mandela ein successor, President Thabo Mbeki, she subsequently become a rising star insyd Mbeki ein cabinet, serve as Minister of Agriculture den Land Affairs from June 1999 to May 2006 den Minister of Public Works from May 2006 to September 2008.

She be among de several ministers who resign insyd de aftermath of Mbeki ein recall by de ANC insyd September 2008. After a hiatus from frontline politics between 2008 den 2014, Didiza return to Parliament insyd 2014 as a house chairperson insyd de National Assembly, a position she hold throughout de fifth democratic Parliament. During dat period, she stand unsuccessfully as de ANC ein candidate for election as Mayor of Tshwane insyd de 2016 municipal elections; ein nomination lead to several days of riots by ANC supporters insyd de city.

She return to de cabinet as Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform den Rural Development after de 2019 general election, wey President Cyril Ramaphosa appoint am. After de next general election insyd 2024, she be elected as Speaker of de National Assembly.

Didiza be first elected to de ANC National Executive Committee insyd 1997. She be member of de committee from 1997 to 2007 den from 2012 to now. Ein absence from de committee between 2007 den 2012 follow de ANC ein Polokwane conference, wey she launch an abortive bid to become ANC deputy secretary-general on top slate of candidates wey align to Mbeki.

## Early life den education
Dem born Didiza on 2 June 1965 insyd Durban insyd de former Natal Province. She be de youngest of three children born to Vusimuzi den Assiena Ntombenhle Msane, den ein mommie be from a family of small-scale farmers insyd present-day Mpumalanga. Didiza attend de Ohlange School insyd Inanda, founded by John Dube of de African National Congress (ANC). During ein matric year insyd 1981, she meet Phumzile Mlambo, wey later be de first woman Deputy President of South Africa; Mlambo become a close friend den political mentor to Didiza.

Though Didiza no get tertiary education during ein apartheid-era activism, she completed several postgraduate diplomas, including one insyd journalism. After de end of apartheid, she completed three degrees: a Bachelor of Arts insyd politics den sociology (2003) den Honours insyd politics (2007) from de University of South Africa, den a Master's insyd tertiary education management from de University of Melbourne.

## Early career den activism
Didiza work as a legal secretary for Mafika Mbuli, a Natal lawyer, until 1985, when she become a secretary den then a programme officer for de Diakonia Ecumenical Church Agency. Having enter politics through de church, she be involved insyd de leadership of de Natal Women's Organisation, sanso as insyd de underground structures of de ANC, which at de time be ban insyd South Africa. Insyd 1987, she be a member of a women ein delegation to a meeting at de ANC ein exile headquarters insyd Lusaka, Zambia, where, she later recall, a senior member chastise ein for pass notes to fellow activist Brigitte Mabandla.

Insyd 1989, Didiza move to Vosloorus on de East Rand to work as de national youth coordinator for de South African Council of de Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA). While work for de YWCA until 1992, she sanso work insyd different capacities for de South African Council of Churches (SACC), then a prominent anti-apartheid organisation base insyd Johannesburg. She use de council ein platform to canvass for de ANC den work on its humanitarian den public relations programmes. During de negotiations to end apartheid, she be a member of de National Co-ordinating Committee for de Repatriation of South African Exiles, chair by Frank Chikane of de SACC, which make arrangements for de reception of political exiles return to South Africa.

Didiza sanso continue ein women's activism, den she be de inaugural secretary-general of de Women's National Coalition from 1992 to 1994. Insyd addition, after de ANC be unban, she become active insyd de newly establish ANC Youth League, which nominate ein to stand as an ANC candidate insyd de first post-apartheid elections insyd April 1994.

## Career insyd government

### Deputy Minister of Agriculture: 1994–1999
After Didiza ein election to de National Assembly insyd 1994, newly elected President Nelson Mandela appoint ein to de first post-apartheid government as Deputy Minister of Agriculture. Still insyd ein 20s, she be de youngest minister or deputy minister insyd de government, den Mark Gevisser of de Mail & Guardian suspect dat de ANC Youth League lobby for ein appointment. She hold de office throughout Mandela ein single term as president. Upon take office, Didiza say dat she know "only four things about agriculture", learn during ein early childhood on ein grandmother ein small farm: "You plant, you grow, you eat, den what you not eat you try to sell." Insyd addition, ein portfolio be widely view as politically precarious, but she be viewed as have "handle de difficult job plus great success".

Until 1996, she deputise Kraai van Niekerk, who represent de National Party insyd de Government of National Unity, den, despite demma differ political backgrounds, de pair reportedly work well together. Didiza be task plus reform de credit system for farmers, den she sanso launch de Broadening Access to Agriculture Thrust (BATAT) programme, which she describe as "a strategy to force change insyd de department" den to "enable de department to understand its new role of support den encourage new entrants to de sector". De ministry under Didiza den van Niekerk be sanso note for intermittently come into conflict plus Derek Hanekom, de Minister of Land Affairs, whose portfolio sometimes compete plus demma. Insyd 1996, after van Niekerk den de National Party exit de government, Hanekom become Didiza ein boss at de head of de newly amalgamate Ministry of Agriculture den Land Affairs.

Insyd parallel to ein government career, Didiza continue to rise through de ANC, though plus a low public profile. Early insyd de legislative term, she be co-opt onto de ANC ein National Executive Committee, de party's senior leadership structure. She be directly elect onto de committee for de first time at de ANC ein 50th National Conference insyd Mafikeng December 1997; she be one of only two ANC Youth League members to gain election.

### Minister of Agriculture den Land Affairs: 1999–2006
Insyd June 1999, after de 1999 general election, Didiza be promoted to de cabinet of newly elect President Thabo Mbeki; she replace Hanekom as Minister of Agriculture den Land Affairs. By de end of de year, Didiza demonstrate a different focus to Hanekom, reverse ein emphasis on small black farming to promote black commercial farming instead. She be admired for build relationships between government den disparate interest groups, such as AgriSA, den, though de pace of land reform remain slow, there be a mark acceleration insyd de 2002–2004 period. Ein ministry convene de National Land Summit on land reform insyd July 2005. There, Didiza argue dat land restitution be obstruct by de prevail market-based approach, especially de "willing buyer, willing seller" approach to determine de price of land.

Didiza be reputed as a political ally den protégé of President Mbeki, den Mbeki ein biographer describe ein as a "loyal Mbeki-ite". At de ANC's 51st National Conference insyd December 2002, which re-elect Mbeki as ANC president, Didiza be re-elect to de National Executive Committee; by number of votes receive, she be de fourth-most popular candidate, behind only Trevor Manuel, Cyril Ramaphosa, den Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. Insyd addition, she be named as one of de World Economic Forum's Young Global Leaders insyd 2005.

### Minister of Public Works: 2006–2008
On 22 May 2006, Mbeki announce a minor reshuffle insyd which Didiza be name as Minister of Public Works. She succeed Stella Sigcau, who die insyd office. During ein tenure, insyd 2008, she introduce de controversial Expropriation Bill, which expand de state ein powers to expropriate private property for public purpose insyd de public interest. De bill be withdraw due to constitutional concerns, but subsequent versions of it be debate insyd Parliament for over a decade thereafter.

#### Polokwane conference
Insyd 2007, Mbeki face strong competition against ein bid for re-election to a third term as ANC president. Insyd de party ein internal elections, Didiza stand for a top position on a slate of candidates align to Mbeki, insyd ein case for election as ANC deputy secretary-general. De ANC Women's League not support ein candidacy, nominate Baleka Mbete for de position instead.***'

When de ANC ein 52nd National Conference be hold insyd Polokwane insyd December 2007, Jacob Zuma den ein supporters beat Mbeki ein camp insyd all de top leadership races. Thandi Modise be elected as deputy secretary-general insyd a landslide, receive 2,304 votes against Didiza ein 1,455. Didiza sanso fail to gain re-election to an ordinary seat on de ANC National Executive Committee.

==== Resignation ====
Insyd de political fall-out from de ANC ein Polokwane conference, de party ask Mbeki to resign from de national presidency. Didiza be among de 11 cabinet ministers who submit demma own resignation on 23 September 2008 insyd de aftermath of Mbeki ein announcement. De ANC ein leadership later say dat Didiza agree dat she be willing to return to ein ministerial portfolio insyd de cabinet of Mbeki ein successor, President Kgalema Motlanthe; however, when Motlanthe announce ein cabinet, Didiza be replaced by Geoff Doidge. She sanso resign from de National Assembly, cede ein seat to Papi Moloto on 26 September.

=== Political hiatus: 2008–2014 ===
Although Didiza be initially list as one of de ANC ein candidates insyd de 2009 general election, she not stand den be absent from Parliament throughout de fourth democratic Parliament. During dis period, from 2011 to 2014, she be employed by de University of South Africa, work as a consultant on de launch of de Archie Mafeje Research Institute on Applied Social Policy.

Meanwhile, she embark on what become a "remarkable comeback", which begin insyd 2012 when de Provincial Executive Committee of de ANC insyd Limpopo proclaim ein support for ein return to de National Executive Committee. At de ANC ein next national conference, hold insyd Mangaung insyd December dat year, she be elected to de committee, rank ninth of de 80 ordinary members elected. Insyd de 2014 general election, she be one of de top candidates for de ANC, rank 15th on de national party list, den she be therefore a possible contender for an appointment to President Zuma ein second-term cabinet. By dis time, she be viewed as have be politically "rehabilitate" as a former Mbeki ally.

=== National Assembly: 2014–2019 ===
After de 2014 election, Didiza return to a seat insyd de National Assembly but no be appointed to cabinet. Instead, she be elected as a presiding officer, serve alongside Mmatlala Boroto den Cedric Frolick as one of de National Assembly ein three house chairpersons. She be house chairperson plus responsibility for internal arrangements, den she be generally popular insyd dat role. In addition, she be elected for a three-year term as chairperson of de African region of Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians insyd 2016; den she be re-elected to de ANC National Executive Committee, rank 15th, at de ANC ein next elective conference insyd December 2017.***'

#### Tshwane mayoral candidacy
On 20 June 2016, de ANC announce dat Didiza go be its candidate for election as Mayor of Tshwane insyd de municipal elections later dat year. She remain insyd ein parliamentary seat unless den until she be elected as mayor. However, ein candidacy be highly controversial. At de time, de ANC insyd Tshwane be divide insyd a factional struggle between de outgoing mayor, Sputla Ramokgopa, den ein deputy, Mapiti Matsena. De provincial ANC no agree on a candidate den defer to de National Executive Committee, which propose Didiza as a "compromise candidate". In addition to dis factional dynamic – den in addition to an unprecedented threat to de ANC ein dominance by opposition parties – some ANC supporters object to Didiza ein nomination because she no be native to Tshwane den therefore be viewed as a "fly-in candidate". De ANC point out dat she live insyd Tshwane since 1994 den be active insyd a local party branch insyd Pretoria.****

Nonetheless, protests against Didiza ein candidacy turn into several days of riots, which result insyd at least five deaths den dozens of arrests. Insyd de aftermath of de violence, Didiza say:I never den I still not feel foreign insyd Tshwane. Even plus de latest incidents which I not think reflect de feelings of de community of Tshwane. I therefore not insyd any way feel alienate. I feel part of dat community.De ANC Women's League back Didiza, plus league president Bathabile Dlamini condemn ein critics as purveyors of patriarchy den tribalism. However, President Zuma suggest insyd retrospect dat Didiza's nomination be a mistake. When de elections be hold insyd August, de ANC lose ein majority insyd Tshwane for de first time since de end of apartheid. Didiza say dat de result be "no surprise", give how hotly contest de municipality be. Because de ANC be not able to install ein as mayor, she remain insyd de National Assembly.

#### Constitutional amendment committee
Insyd February 2019, Didiza be elected as chairperson of de ad hoc parliamentary committee established to redraft de so-call property clause insyd Section 25 of de Constitution, plus de purpose of explicitly sanction land expropriation without compensation. De committee not complete ein work before de end of de fifth Parliament later dat year, den it later reconvene under de chairmanship of Mathole Motshekga.

### Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform den Rural Development: 2019–2024
Insyd de 2019 general election, Didiza be re-elected to de National Assembly, rank 12th on de ANC ein national party list. Although she be viewed as a frontrunner to succeed Baleka Mbete as Speaker of de National Assembly, she be instead appoint to de cabinet of President Cyril Ramaphosa, name to ein earlier (now rename) portfolio as Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform den Rural Development. Sdumo Dlamini den Mcebisi Skwatsha be appointed as ein deputies. Ein appointment be broadly welcome by civil society, den ein first task be to oversee de merger of de Department of Land Reform den Rural Development plus de Department of Agriculture. Months after she take office, there be an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease insyd South Africa, den ein ministry be criticise for ein slow response.

Sanso insyd 2019, at a meeting insyd Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Didiza be elected to chair de African Union's Specialised Technical Committee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Water den Environment. At de ANC ein 55th National Conference insyd December 2022, she be re-elected to de ANC National Executive Committee, rank 35th of de 80 ordinary members. She not stand for higher party office at de conference, despite speculation dat she be well positioned to do so, particularly as a young female ally of President Ramaphosa.

### Speaker of de National Assembly: 2024–present
On 14 June 2024, Didiza be elected Speaker of de National Assembly of South Africa during de first sitting of de 28th Parliament of South Africa. She defeat de Economic Freedom Fighters' Veronica Mente plus 284 votes to 49.

## Ein life matter
Didiza remain a practicing Christian. During ein hiatus from government, she run an eatery insyd central Pretoria name Thoko's Kitchen, den she be a longstanding member of de board of de Thabo Mbeki Foundation.

On 16 June 1995, she marry Tami Didiza, who be then a civil servant den later become a businessman. Demma get five children; insyd 2000, while Agriculture den Land Affairs Minister, Didiza get ein fourth child, become de first South African politician to give birth while serve insyd de cabinet.

## References


## External links

* Angela Thoko Didiza at South African Government
* Thoko Didiza at People's Assembly
* 2022 interview with Radio 702