Lulama Xingwana
Encyclopedia
Lulama "Lulu" Marytheresa Xingwana (born 23 September 1955) is a South African politician, serving as Minister of Arts and Culture
from May 2009 to October 2010. Previously she held the position of Deputy Minister of Minerals and Energy from 2004 to 2006 and was Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs
from 2006 to 2009, succeeding Thoko Didiza
.
in 2002, and the other two in Development and Leadership Studies, and Rural Development from the University of Zimbabwe
in Zimbabwe.
's Regional Women's Caucus and director of the South African Council of Churches
' Women's Development Programmes (1987). She has chaired the Joint Monitoring Committee for the Improvement of Quality of Life and Status of Women (2002–2004), the Parliamentary Women's Caucus (1999–2004), the Malibongwe Rural Development Project for Women (1998–2000) and the National Assembly Portfolio Committee for Sports and Recreation (1994–1999). She has been a tutor of Classes for Domestic Workers in rural areas and the suburbs of Johannesburg, as well as for Learn and Teach, since 1985. From 1999 to 2004, she was on the National Assembly Portfolio Committee for Defence. She has also been on the ANC's Provincial Executive Council for Gauteng
(1998–2001) and the National Assembly Portfolio Committee: Environmental Affairs and Tourism (1996–2004), Head of Development for the ANC Women's League (1991–1994) and a member of FEDSWA (1981–1991). Her membership to the United Democratic Front
lasted from 1983 until 1991, and she has been a member of the ANC Women's League
since 1993.
and the Transvaal Agricultural Union
, challenged her to provide evidence that would support her accusations. The minister called for a meeting with the unions, but the farmers walked out in protest. Former President Thabo Mbeki
was called in to resolve the dispute.
In April 2009, a report in the Afrikaans
newspaper Rapport repeated details found by one of its readers in a three-page Land Affairs document of a special mobile toilet
, imported at R500,000, for Xingwana's exclusive use while handing over land in various parts of the country. Its specifications were said to include gold
trimmings, but Xingwana's spokesperson denied the claim, declaring that, although Xingwana did indeed have a specially-reserved toilet, it was no different from those which played host to the hoi polloi.
In March 2010 Lulu Xingwana stormed out of an art exhibition that she was attending in her capacity of minister of Arts and Culture, calling the work 'immoral'. It was alleged by an anonymous insider that Xingwana had objected to the display of same-sex couples, but the official reason provided through her spokesperson was that it was “It was immoral, offensive and going against nation-building.”
Minister of Arts and Culture (South Africa)
The Minister of Arts and Culture is a Minister of the Cabinet of South Africa who is responsible for overseeing the Department of Arts and Culture. The portfolio was created on 29 April 2004 on the appointment of the second Cabinet of President Thabo Mbeki, when the Arts, Culture, Science and...
from May 2009 to October 2010. Previously she held the position of Deputy Minister of Minerals and Energy from 2004 to 2006 and was Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs
Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs (South Africa)
The Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs was, from 1996 to 2009, a Minister of the Cabinet of South Africa, with responsibility for the Departments of Agriculture and Land Affairs. The portfolio was created in 1996 when the positions of Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Land Affairs were...
from 2006 to 2009, succeeding Thoko Didiza
Thoko Didiza
Angela Thoko Didiza is a South African politician. She became Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs on 17 June 1999 and is currently the Minister of Public Works....
.
Education
Xingwana obtained a Bachelor of Science degree from University of the Witswatersrand in 1985 and three postgraduate diplomas, one in Economic Principles from the University of LondonUniversity of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
in 2002, and the other two in Development and Leadership Studies, and Rural Development from the University of Zimbabwe
University of Zimbabwe
The University of Zimbabwe in Harare, is the oldest and largest university in Zimbabwe. It was founded through a special relationship with the University of London and it opened its doors to its first students in 1952. The university has ten faculties offering a wide variety of degree programmes...
in Zimbabwe.
Political career
Xingwana became a Member of Parliament after the 1994 South African elections. She is currently also chairperson of the Southern African Development CommunitySouthern African Development Community
The Southern African Development Community is an inter-governmental organization headquartered in Gaborone, Botswana. Its goal is to further socio-economic cooperation and integration as well as political and security cooperation among 15 southern African states...
's Regional Women's Caucus and director of the South African Council of Churches
South African Council of Churches
The South African Council of Churches is an interdenominational forum in South Africa. It was a prominent anti-apartheid organisation during the years of apartheid in South Africa. Its leaders have included Desmond Tutu, Beyers Naudé and Frank Chikane....
' Women's Development Programmes (1987). She has chaired the Joint Monitoring Committee for the Improvement of Quality of Life and Status of Women (2002–2004), the Parliamentary Women's Caucus (1999–2004), the Malibongwe Rural Development Project for Women (1998–2000) and the National Assembly Portfolio Committee for Sports and Recreation (1994–1999). She has been a tutor of Classes for Domestic Workers in rural areas and the suburbs of Johannesburg, as well as for Learn and Teach, since 1985. From 1999 to 2004, she was on the National Assembly Portfolio Committee for Defence. She has also been on the ANC's Provincial Executive Council for Gauteng
Gauteng
Gauteng is one of the nine provinces of South Africa. It was formed from part of the old Transvaal Province after South Africa's first all-race elections on 27 April 1994...
(1998–2001) and the National Assembly Portfolio Committee: Environmental Affairs and Tourism (1996–2004), Head of Development for the ANC Women's League (1991–1994) and a member of FEDSWA (1981–1991). Her membership to the United Democratic Front
United Democratic Front (South Africa)
The United Democratic Front was one of the most important anti-apartheid organisations of the 1980s. The non-racial coalition of about 400 civic, church, students', workers' and other organisations was formed in 1983, initially to fight the just-introduced idea of the Tricameral Parliament The...
lasted from 1983 until 1991, and she has been a member of the ANC Women's League
African National Congress Women's League
The African National Congress Women's League is the women's wing of the African National Congress . It was founded in 1931 as the Bantu Women's League, with Charlotte Maxeke as its first president. It was integrated into the ANC during the period from 1943, when women were first admitted as...
since 1993.
Controversy
In her appointment as Agriculture and Land Affairs Minister, Xingwana caused controversy in 2007 when she accused white farmers of being cruel and inhumane towards their workers. She claimed that farmers regularly "rape and assault" their workers. These statements enraged many farmers, and two farm unions, AgriSAAgriSA
Agri South Africa is an agricultural trade association in South Africa. It is a federal organisation, which promotes on behalf of its members, the sustainable profitability and stability of commercial agricultural producers and agribusinesses through its involvement and input on national and...
and the Transvaal Agricultural Union
Transvaal Agricultural Union
The Transvaal Agricultural Union of South Africa is an Agricultural Organization with the main goal of protecting private property rights and the safety of South African farmers. It seeks to protect the agricultural sector in South Africa against what it perceives to be the attacks by communism...
, challenged her to provide evidence that would support her accusations. The minister called for a meeting with the unions, but the farmers walked out in protest. Former President Thabo Mbeki
Thabo Mbeki
Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki is a South African politician who served two terms as the second post-apartheid President of South Africa from 14 June 1999 to 24 September 2008. He is also the brother of Moeletsi Mbeki...
was called in to resolve the dispute.
In April 2009, a report in the Afrikaans
Afrikaans
Afrikaans is a West Germanic language, spoken natively in South Africa and Namibia. It is a daughter language of Dutch, originating in its 17th century dialects, collectively referred to as Cape Dutch .Afrikaans is a daughter language of Dutch; see , , , , , .Afrikaans was historically called Cape...
newspaper Rapport repeated details found by one of its readers in a three-page Land Affairs document of a special mobile toilet
Toilet
A toilet is a sanitation fixture used primarily for the disposal of human excrement, often found in a small room referred to as a toilet/bathroom/lavatory...
, imported at R500,000, for Xingwana's exclusive use while handing over land in various parts of the country. Its specifications were said to include gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
trimmings, but Xingwana's spokesperson denied the claim, declaring that, although Xingwana did indeed have a specially-reserved toilet, it was no different from those which played host to the hoi polloi.
In March 2010 Lulu Xingwana stormed out of an art exhibition that she was attending in her capacity of minister of Arts and Culture, calling the work 'immoral'. It was alleged by an anonymous insider that Xingwana had objected to the display of same-sex couples, but the official reason provided through her spokesperson was that it was “It was immoral, offensive and going against nation-building.”