Aaron Motsoaledi

Pakishe Aaron Motsoaledi (born 7 August 1958 in Transvaal) is the Minister of Home Affairs in the Cabinet of South Africa. He was previously the Minister of Health from 2009 to 2019.[2] He was a MEC in Limpopo province for (in chronological order) Education, agriculture and environment,[3] and education.[4]

The Honourable

Aaron Motsoaledi

MP
Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi in 2016
Minister of Home Affairs
Assumed office
30 May 2019
Preceded bySiyabonga Cwele
Minister of Health
In office
11 May 2009 – 29 May 2019
PresidentJacob Zuma
Cyril Ramaphosa
Preceded byBarbara Hogan
Succeeded byZweli Mkhize
Personal details
Born (1958-08-07) 7 August 1958
Polokwane, Limpopo, South Africa
Political partyAfrican National Congress
Spouse(s)Thelma Dikeledi[1]
RelationsElias Motsoaledi (uncle)
Children5 (2 sons, 3 daughters)[1]
Alma materUniversity of Natal
CabinetZuma I
Zuma II

Biography

Motsoaledi was born in Phokwane village in Limpopo Province to Kgokolo Michael Motsoaledi and Sina Sekeku Maile. He was one of nine children (seven boys and two girls) in the family. As a child at the age of 8, he gained political awareness after witnessing the arrest of a neighbour for not carrying a "dompas" (reference book) and was later heavily influenced by the 1976 Soweto uprising. He received secondary education at Setotolwane High School.[5] While attending the University of the North at Turfloop, he was frequently involved in student marches, demonstrations and sit-ins at the campus and Mankweng police station.[1]

Motsoaledi is a medical doctor by training. He holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery from the University of Natal while attending there in the late 1970s.[1][6] He was elected to the student representative council in 1980, and participated in the formation of a student movement, the Azanian Students’ Organisation (AZASO), which he was elected the national correspondence secretary. Motsoaledi ran a successful surgery in the small rural town of Jane Furse prior to his appointment in government. He also help mobilising students in Natal for the formation of the United Democratic Front (UDF) and have connections with the ANC`s armed wing, Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) in Sekhukhuneland.[1]

Prior to his appointment as Minister of Health of the Republic of South Africa, Motsoaledi had served as a Chairperson of the Sekhukhune Advice Office from 1986 to 1994; as a Chairperson of Hlahlolanang Health and Nutrition Education Project in 1989; as a Deputy Chairperson of the African National Congress (ANC) in the then Northern Transvaal from 1991 to 1992; as Head of the ANC Elections Commission for Limpopo Province in 1994; as Head of the ANC Economic and Infrastructure Desk and as Head of the ANC Research and Briefing of election Task Team in Limpopo in 1994.

Motsoaledi has also served as a member of the Limpopo Provincial Legislature from 1994 to 2009; as a member of the Limpopo Provincial Executive Council (MEC) for Education from 1994 to 1997; MEC for Transport from 1998 to 1999 and MEC for Agriculture, Land and Environment in 1999.

The Minister administered to the first South African state patient a fixed dose combination (FDC) antiretroviral tablet of Efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir on 9 April 2013 in GaRankuwa.

In November 2016, 32 ANC MPs stayed away from the motion of no confidence, including Motsoaledi, who had recently spoken out against Zuma and did not vote either.[7]

In May 2019, Motsoaledi was named Minister of Home Affairs by President Cyril Ramaphosa.[8]

Other activities

References
  1. "Minister of Health: Dr Pakishe Aaron Motsoaledi". Steve Biko Academic Hospital. Retrieved 2017-08-29.
  2. "New Cabinet - full appointments". News24. Archived from the original on 2009-05-12. Retrieved 2009-05-10.
  3. "Zero tolerence for vigilantes". News24. Retrieved 2009-05-10.
  4. "Initiative to visit schools". The Sowetan. Retrieved 2009-05-10.
  5. "Aaron Motsoaledi". Who's Who Southern Africa. Archived from the original on 2017-09-02. Retrieved 2017-08-29.
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-09-13. Retrieved 2012-11-08.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. "Gordhan, Motsoaledi, Motshekga among 32 ANC MPs who did not vote". CityPress. Retrieved 2017-08-11.
  8. Who's in and who's out of SA's 2019 cabinet. Retrieved on 2019-06-11.
  9. List of Commissioners UNAIDS–Lancet Commission on Defeating AIDS.
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