DURBAN - After the inauguration of President Cyril Ramaphosa, all eyes are on the position of vice president. A number of names are being touted for the position, and Naledi Pandor seems to be a major contender.
Here are some of major facts on Minister Naledi Pandor:
1. Naledi Pandor was born on the December 12th 1953 in Durban as Grace Naledi Mandisa Matthews.
2. Her father, Joe Matthews, and her grandfather Z. K. Matthews, were both anti-apartheid activists.
3. She is currently the Minister of Science and Technology and has been serving in that office since 2014. Pandor was previously the Minister of Education (2004-2009) and the Minister of Home Affairs (2012-2014).
4. The minister has previously held positions as the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces Cape Town and the Deputy Chief Whip for the African National Congress's National Executive Committee.
5. She was educated in Botswana, while in exile and matriculated at Gaborone Secondary School.
6. Pandor also has many other educational qualifications from various universities, both in South Africa as well as internationally. Some of the minister's qualifications include her Masters of Arts in General Linguistics from the University of Stellenbosch and her Master of Education from the University of London.
7. She is currently the National Director for the Black Management Forum and the Deputy Chairperson of the Joint Education Trust Board.
8. Pandor was previously a lecturer at the University of Cape Town and has worked as a teacher in London, Canada and Botswana.
9. The minister has also been the Chairperson of the Tertiary Educational Training Fund of South Africa and the Executive Director for the Desmond Tutu Educational Trust.
10. She is married to Sharif Joseph Pandor and has three children Fazlur Pandor, Aisha Pandor, Suraya Pandor and Haroon Pandor.