Bathabile Olive Dlamini

Ms Dlamini was appointed as Minister in The Presidency responsible for Women on 27 February 2018. Ms Dlamini was the Minister of Social Development of the Republic of South Africa from 26 May 2014 until 26 February 2018.

She is a member of the National Executive Committee of the African National Congress (ANC).Ms Dlamimi holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Studies from the University of Zululand obtained in 1989.

Ms Dlamini is an active member of the Idlangamabala Youth at Imbali’s St Marks Anglican Church, as well as the South African Students Congress. She worked with various structures after the release of Nelson Mandela, including the Congress of South Africa Trade Unions, as well as the youth and various underground structures of the ANC.

She became part of the interim leadership that was formed to build the ANC Women’s League (ANCWL) structures in the KwaZulu-Natal regions in 1991. During that period, she was elected to the first Regional Executive Committee of the ANCWL.

Between 1991 and 1993, Ms Dlamini worked for the Pietermaritzburg Cripples Care Association, a non-governmental organisation, that supports people who have physical disabilities. During this time, she also served as a member of the Imbali Rehabilitation Programme, and as Deputy Secretary General of the ANCWL in 1993.

As Member of Parliament, Ms Dlamini served in the Correctional Services and Social Development Portfolio committees from 1994 to 2004. She has also served as Secretary-General of the ANCWL from 1998 to 2008 (one of the longest serving Secretaries-General of the ANCWL.

In 2007, she became a member of the National Executive Council of the ANC, as well as of the National Working Committee. She was also part of the formation of the Progressive Women’s Movement of South Africa in 2007.

Prior to her appointment as Minister of Social Development, Ms Dlamini was Deputy Minister of Social Development of the Republic of South Africa from 11 May 2009 to 31 October 2010.
Source: Deputy Ministry of Social Development