Bomo Edna Molewa

Ms Edna Molewa is the Minister of Environmental Affairs of the Republic of South Africa; a position she has held since 26 May 2014. She is the provincial chairperson of the African National Congress (ANC) Women’s League (ANCWL) in North West; she has been a member of the Provincial Executive Committee from 1996 and a member of the ANCWL National Executive Council since 2003.

Ms Molewa completed a course in Economic Leadership for the New Millennium and Administration Management from Wharton School of Business in the United States of America; as well as a course in Leadership at Kennedy School of Governance. She also and she holds a Certificate in Negotiating Skills by IMAMS and is currently studying towards a B.Com degree through the University of South Africa.

Ms Molewa has taught at Molotov and Mokonyane Secondary Schools from 1976 to 1981. Between 1976 and 1990, she had been involved in the underground structures of the liberation movement.

During the period 1984 to 1990, she served as chairperson of the South African Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers Union (SACCAWU) at the Warm-baths Branch and became a member of the Federation of Transvaal Women. She later became deputy president of SACCAWU.

From 1987 to 1989, she was a member of the Regional Executive Committee of the Congress of South African Trade Union, Northern Transvaal, and between 1992 and 1994, she served on the board of the National Labour Economic Institute.

From 1992 to 1994, Ms Molina was deputy chairperson of the ANCWL, Garankuwa Branch; and from 1994 to 1996, she was a member of the National Assembly. She was the first women chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry during the periodfrom 1994 to 1996.

Prior to her appointment as Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Ms Molewa served as Minister of Social Development from 11 May 2009 to 31 October, 2010 and as Premier of North West from April 2004 to May 2009.

From 1996 to 1998, she served as a member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Tourism, Environment and Conservation in North West; from 1998 to 2000 as MEC for Economic Development and Tourism in North West and from 2000 to 2004,to 2000; and as MEC for Agriculture, Conservation and Environment in North West West.

Ms Molewa has also served as chairperson of the ANCWL in the North West; as provincial treasurer of the African National Congress (ANC) in the North West until May 2005, and as chairperson of the ANC in North West from May 2005 to May 2008.

Ms Molewa was the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs of the Republic of South Africa from 1 November 2010 until 26 May 2014.