Vytjie Mentor
Mabel Patronella Mentor (born 19 October 1963), known as Vytjie Mentor, is a South African politician who served as a Member of the National Assembly from 2002 until 2014. She represented the African National Congress and served as the party's caucus chairperson between 2004 and 2008. She was chairperson of the portfolio committee on public enterprises from 2009 to 2010. Early life and education. Mabel Patronella Mentor was born on 19 October 1963 in the former Cape Province of South Africa. She matriculated from Batlhaping High School in Taung. She studied at Hebron Theological College, East Rand  College, and the University of the Witwatersrand. Mentor also studied through UNISA. Parliamentary career. Mentor was a long-standing member of the African National Congress. She was sworn in as an MP in 2002 and was elected to her first full term in 2004. After the election, she was named as chairperson of the party's caucus, succeeding Joyce Kgoali. She held the position until 2008, when Ncumisa Chwayita Kondlo was announced as her successor. Mentor was re-elected in 2009. The ANC then designated her to be the chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises. In 2010, she  accompanied president Jacob Zuma on a state visit to China. This generated controversy. The ANC launched a probe and found that Transnet had paid for her trip. She was later demoted as chairperson of the committee after it was found that she had improperly asked for sponsorship. Mentor left Parliament before the 2014 general election. State capture. In March 2016, Mentor claimed that in 2010 the Gupta family, on behalf of Zuma, offered her the position of Minister of Public Enterprises, if she could arrange that South African Airways drop their Johannesburg to Mumbai route, so that Jet Airways could  acquire it. She said she declined the offer, which occurred at the Guptas' Saxonwold residence, while Zuma was in another room. The family denied that the meeting took place and Zuma said he had no recollection of Mentor. In August 2018, she testified at The Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture. She was cross-examined in February 2019 after some parts of her testimony were found to be inconsistent. Mentor has defended her testimony. Later career. Mentor resigned from the ANC in March 2019 and joined the African Christian Democratic Party. In July 2020, Herman Mashaba announced  that Mentor had joined his new political party.