Susan Shabangu
{{Short description|South African politician (born 1956)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Susan Shabangu
| image = South Africa's Mining Minister Susan Shibango, 2012. Photo- AusAID (10695929445).jpg
| caption = Shabangu in 2012
| office = Member of the National Assembly
| term_start = 9 May 1994
| term_end = 3 June 2019
| office1 = Minister of Social Development
| president1 = Cyril Ramaphosa
| deputy1 = Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu
| term_start1 = 26 February 2018
| term_end1 = 29 May 2019
| predecessor1 = Bathabile Dlamini
| successor1 = Lindiwe Zulu
| office2 = Minister of Women in the Presidency
| president2 = Jacob Zuma
| term_start2 = 26 May 2014
| term_end2 = 26 February 2018
| predecessor2 = Lulu Xingwana (for Women, Children and Persons with Disability)
| successor2 = Bathabile Dlamini
| office3 = Minister of Mineral Resources
| term_start3 = 11 May 2009
| term_end3 = 25 May 2014
| predecessor3 = Buyelwa Sonjica
| successor3 = Ngoako Ramatlhodi
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1956|2|28|df=yes}}
| party = African National Congress
| deputy3 = Godfrey Oliphant
| president3 = Jacob Zuma
}}
Susan Shabangu (born 28 February 1956) is a South African politician and former trade unionist. She represented the African National Congress (ANC) in the National Assembly of South Africa between May 1994 and June 2019. During that time she was a cabinet minister from 2009 to 2019.
Shabangu served as Minister of Social Development from February 2018 to May 2019, as Minister of Women from May 2014 to February 2018, and as Minister of Mineral Resources from May 2009 to May 2014. She entered the national executive in March 1996 as Deputy Minister of Minerals and Energy in Nelson Mandela's government, and she also served as Deputy Minister of Safety and Security in Thabo Mbeki's government. She was a member of the ANC National Executive Committee between December 2007 and December 2022.
Education
Susan Shabangu completed her high school career at Madibane High School in Soweto in 1977.
Trade union activism
Before being elected to government, Shabangu was active in the labour movement.{{cite news |date=2014-08-10 |title=Newsmaker – Susan Shabangu: Woman on the edge of time |url=https://www.news24.com/Archives/City-Press/Newsmaker-Susan-Shabangu-Woman-on-the-edge-of-time-20150429 |accessdate=11 January 2019 |work=News24}} From 1980 to 1985, she was Assistant Secretary for the Federation of South African Women (FEDSAW){{citation needed|date=June 2019}}.{{cite book |last1=Calland |first1=Richard |title=The Zuma years : South Africa's changing face of power |date=Aug 16, 2013 |publisher=Penguin Random House South Africa |isbn=978-1770220881 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BwxbDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT463 |accessdate=12 January 2019}} She was also a member of the Federation of Transvaal Women (FEDTRAW). In 1981 she was part of the Anti-Republic Campaign Committee. In 1982, she worked with the Release Mandela Campaign Committee. During 1984-85 she organized the Amalgamated Black Workers Project. She served on the Industrial Council and was the National Women's Coordinator of the Transport and General Workers Union (T&GWU). She served on the National Women's Sub-committee of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU).{{cite web|url=https://www.weforum.org/people/susan-shabangu|title=Susan Shabangu|website=World Economic Forum|accessdate=11 January 2019}}
Early career in government
In South Africa's first democratic elections in April 1994, Shabangu was elected to represent the African National Congress (ANC) in the National Assembly, the lower house of the new South African Parliament.{{Cite book |url=https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/13429370/south-africa-campaign-and-election-report-april-26- |title=South Africa: Campaign and Election Report April 26–29, 1994 |publisher=International Republican Institute |year=1994 |access-date=13 April 2023 |via=Yumpu}} With Joyce Mabudafhasi and Elizabeth Thabethe, she was one of three women who represented COSATU, the ANC's Tripartite Alliance partner, in the ANC caucus.{{Cite journal |last=Dove |first=Fiona |date=1994 |title=Questions of Accountability |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/4065871 |journal=Agenda: Empowering Women for Gender Equity |issue=20 |pages=53–56 |doi=10.2307/4065871 |issn=1013-0950|url-access=subscription }} She was a backbencher for two years, during which time she served on various portfolio committees.{{cite web |date=11 January 2019 |title=Susan Shabangu, Ms |url=https://www.gov.za/about-government/contact-directory/susan-shabangu-ms |website=South African Government}}
On 28 March 1996, President Nelson Mandela announced that he had decided to create the office of the Deputy Minister of Minerals and Energy. Shabangu was appointed as the inaugural holder of the office.{{Cite web |date=28 March 1996 |title=Address by President Nelson Mandela at the National Assembly, Cape Town |url=http://www.mandela.gov.za/mandela_speeches/1996/960328_na.htm |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=Nelson Mandela – Speeches}} She deputised Pik Botha of the opposition National Party until May 1996, when Botha's party left the Government of National Unity; from then onwards she was deputy to new Minister Penuell Maduna.{{Cite web |date=13 May 1996 |title=Statement by President Nelson Mandela on the appointment of new Cabinet members |url=http://www.mandela.gov.za/mandela_speeches/1996/960513_cabinet.htm |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=Nelson Mandela – Speeches}} While serving in the ministry, Shabangu was also an advisor to COSATU's September Commission, which, under the leadership of Connie September, surveyed unionism's prospects in the post-apartheid era.
Shabangu served as Deputy Minister of Minerals and Energy until the April 2004 general election, a period that spanned the remainder of Mandela's presidency and the first term of Thabo Mbeki's presidency. After the 2004 election, announcing his new cabinet on 28 April 2004, President Mbeki appointed her as Deputy Minister of Safety and Security under Minister Charles Nqakula.{{Cite web |date=28 April 2004 |title=Mbeki's cabinet list |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/mbekis-cabinet-list-20040428 |access-date=2023-08-05 |website=News24 |language=en-US}} In that portfolio she was best known for the widespread controversy that arose in April 2008, when, speaking of criminals, she told an audience of police officers in Pretoria that, "You must kill the bastards if they threaten you or the community".{{cite web |date=10 April 2008 |title=Shoot to kill, minister tells SA police |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/shoot-to-kill-minister-tells-sa-police-807160.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/shoot-to-kill-minister-tells-sa-police-807160.html |archive-date=25 May 2022 |accessdate=2009-05-10 |website=Independent Online |publisher=}}{{cite web |date=2008-04-12 |title=Zuma supports 'shoot to kill' |url=https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/Politics/Zuma-supports-shoot-to-kill-20080412 |accessdate=11 January 2019 |website=News24}}{{cite news |date=18 April 2008 |title=Shabangu's shoot-to-kill comments condemned |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2008-04-18-shabangus-shoottokill-comments-condemned |accessdate=11 January 2019 |work=Mail & Guardian}}
Ministerial career
= Mineral Resources: 2009–2014 =
In the April 2009 general election, Shabangu was re-elected to her parliamentary seat and Jacob Zuma took office as president. On 10 May 2009, Zuma announced that he would elevate Shabangu to his cabinet as Minister of Mineral Resources (initially called Minister of Mining).{{Cite web |date=10 May 2009 |title=Statement by President Jacob Zuma on the appointment of the new Cabinet |url=https://www.gov.za/news/speeches/statement-president-jacob-zuma-appointment-new-cabinet-10-may-2009 |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=South African Government}}{{Cite news |date=21 August 2009 |title=Meet the Government: Department of Minerals and Energy |url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/2009-08-21-department-of-minerals-and-energy/ |access-date=5 July 2024 |work=Sunday Times}} The portfolio was newly reconfigured, having previously been a part of the Ministry of Minerals and Energy. Shabangu served without a deputy until 31 October 2010, when Zuma appointed Godfrey Oliphant as Deputy Minister of Mineral Resources.{{Cite web |date=31 October 2010 |title=President Zuma announces changes to the National Executive |url=https://www.gov.za/news/media-statements/president-zuma-announces-changes-national-executive-31-oct-2010 |access-date=2024-07-04 |website=South African Government}}
In August 2012, following the Marikana massacre at Lonmin Platinum Mine near Rustenburg where 44 people were killed after police opened fire on striking workers belonging to the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU), Shabangu visited the area. Tasked with investigating what had happened, she reported to Parliament on 21 August 2012 that she had engaged all "affected parties". When questioned at the Marikana Commission of Inquiry on 26 August 2014 she admitted that these did not include the AMCU or representatives of the striking workers.{{cite news |last1=Nicolson |first1=Greg |date=26 August 2014 |title=Marikana Commission: Minister Shabangu can’t act |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2014-08-26-marikana-commission-minister-shabangu-cant-act/ |accessdate=11 January 2019 |work=Daily Maverick}}
= Women: 2014–2018 =
Shabangu was re-elected to the National Assembly in the May 2014 general election and she was appointed to Zuma's second-term cabinet, which was announced on 25 May. Zuma named her as Minister of Women, a reconfigured portfolio newly relocated to the Presidency.{{Cite web |date=25 May 2014 |title=President Jacob Zuma announces members of the National Executive |url=https://www.gcis.gov.za/content/newsroom/media-releases/media-statements/cabinet_25may2014 |access-date=2 July 2024 |website=Government Communication and Information System}}{{Cite web |date=2017 |title=South African Cabinet Report Cards: Susan Shabangu |url=https://cabinet.mg.co.za/susan-shabangu-7/ |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}} When the Department of Women tabled its five-year strategic plan in 2015, the Mail & Guardian noted that 40 per cent of the department's R200-million annual budget was allocated to administration, remarking that the plan suggested that "Shabangu is supposed to be running some sort of research-heavy lobby group that spends too much money on administration and is unlikely to actually advance the cause of women one iota".{{Cite web |last= |date=2015 |title=South African Cabinet Report Cards: Susan Shabangu |url=https://cabinet.mg.co.za/susan-shabangu-5/ |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}
Shabangu was one of 35 signatories to an open letter, coordinated by the One Campaign, which urged Angela Merkel of the G7 and Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma of the African Union to emphasise women's interests in international development initiatives.{{cite web |last=McVeigh |first=Tracy |date=7 March 2015 |title=Poverty is sexist: leading women sign up for global equality |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/mar/07/povert-sexist-letter-women-equality-gaga-sandberg-beyonce |accessdate=2015-05-08 |publisher=The Guardian}} In South Africa, she established a policy task team on access to feminine hygiene products. Her ministry was also tasked with addressing gender-based violence,{{cite news |last1=Masweneng |first1=Kgaugelo |date=30 August 2017 |title=Susan Shabangu says violence against women not a crisis |url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2017-08-30-susan-shabangu-says-violence-against-women-not-a-crisis/ |accessdate=11 January 2019 |work=Sunday Times}} though she was sometimes criticised for insensitive messaging on the subject.{{Cite web |date=2016-06-30 |title=What department of women? For many, it may as well not exist |url=https://staging.mailandguardian.co.za/article/2016-06-30-00-what-department-of-women/ |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}
In August 2016, Shabangu was the acting President of South Africa while both Zuma and his deputy were both in Swaziland at a meeting of the Southern African Development Community.{{Cite news |date=29 August 2016 |title=Susan Shabangu is president |url=https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/national/2016-08-29-susan-shabangu-is-president/ |access-date=5 July 2024 |work=Business Day}}
= Social Development: 2018–2019 =
In February 2018, Cyril Ramaphosa replaced Zuma in a midterm presidential election. Announcing his new cabinet on 26 February 2018, he appointed Shabangu as Minister of Social Development.{{Cite web |date=2018-02-26 |title=New deputy president, finance minister announced in major Cabinet reshuffle |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2018-02-26-ramaphosa-cabinet-reshuffle-february-2018/ |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}} She succeeded Bathabile Dlamini, who took over her former portfolio.{{cite news |date=27 February 2018 |title=Susan Shabangu's mammoth task: Revitalise Social Development |url=https://ewn.co.za/2018/02/27/susan-shabangu-gets-shot-to-revitalise-social-development |accessdate=12 January 2019 |work=Eyewitness News}} The Daily Maverick described her new ministry as "a poisoned chalice of note";{{Cite web |last=Thamm |first=Marianne |date=2018-02-26 |title=SassaGate Reloaded: Susan Shabangu steps into ring of fire as expert panel again warns of impending national crisis |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2018-02-27-sassagate-reloaded-susan-shabangu-steps-into-ring-of-fire-as-expert-panel-again-warns-of-impending-national-crisis/ |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=Daily Maverick |language=en}} her main task was to stabilise the social welfare system in the aftermath of the grants crisis.{{Cite web |date=2018-08-24 |title=Sassa: The more things change... |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2018-08-24-00-sassa-the-more-things-change/ |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}
Shabangu was re-elected to her parliamentary seat in the May 2019 general election, ranked 63rd on the ANC's national list.{{cite web |title=Ms Susan Shabangu |url=https://www.pa.org.za/person/susan-shabangu/ |accessdate=11 January 2019 |website=People's Assembly}} However, Ramaphosa's second-term cabinet, announced on 29 May, did not include Shabangu.[https://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2019-05-30-a-listicle-of-who-is-in-and-who-is-out-of-sa-cabinet-2019/ "Who's in and who's out of SA's 2019 cabinet"]. Sunday Times. 30 May 2019. Retrieved on 28 June 2019.{{Cite news |date=30 May 2019 |title=14 dis-appointees who didn't make it back to Cabinet |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/14-dis-appointees-who-didnt-make-it-back-to-cabinet-20190530 |access-date=5 July 2024 |work=News24}} The following week she announced her resignation from Parliament.{{Cite news |date=6 June 2019 |title=Former minister Susan Shabangu tenders resignation as MP |url=https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/south-africa/2019-06-06-former-minister-susan-shabangu-tenders-resignation-as-mp/ |access-date=5 July 2022 |work=The Sowetan}}{{Cite news |date=6 June 2019 |title=Former social development minister Susan Shabangu quits parliament |url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2019-06-06-former-social-development-minister-susan-shabangu-quits-parliament |access-date=5 July 2024 |work=Sunday Times}} The resignation took effect on 3 June 2019.
Later career
In 2020, to the disapproval of the opposition Democratic Alliance,{{Cite web |date=25 May 2020 |title=Sisulu hires failed Minister Shabangu to advise on Water |url=https://www.da.org.za/2020/05/sisulu-hires-failed-minister-shabangu-to-advise-on-water |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=Democratic Alliance |language=en}} the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation, Lindiwe Sisulu, appointed Shabangu to a ministerial advisory committee on the water sector. Defending the appointment in the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, Sisulu pointed to Shabangu's trade union experience as evidence of expertise in labour law, telling legislators that, "Susan Shabangu has more experience, more understanding of politics, more understanding of government than you could ever have."{{Cite web |date=26 May 2020 |title=Lindiwe Sisulu defends appointing former minister as new adviser |url=https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/south-africa/2020-05-26-lindiwe-sisulu-defends-appointing-former-minister-as-new-adviser/ |access-date=2024-06-07 |website=Sowetan |language=en-ZA}}
Shabangu's third term on the ANC National Executive Committee ended at the party's 55th National Conference in December 2017, and she was not re-elected.{{Cite news |date=21 December 2022 |title=Cabinet reshuffle imminent after more than a dozen ministers, deputies fail to make NEC cut |url=https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/south-africa/2022-12-21-cabinet-reshuffle-imminent-after-more-than-a-dozen-ministers-deputies-fail-to-make-nec-cut/ |access-date=5 July 2024 |work=The Sowetan}}
Personal life
In March 2003 Shabangu was charged with public indecency after an altercation with an airport security official at Johannesburg International Airport.{{cite web |last=Michaels |first=Jeremy |date=3 May 2003 |title=High, mighty - and very angry |url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/high-mighty-and-very-angry-105812 |accessdate=11 January 2019 |website=Independent Online |publisher=}} She had lifted her dress in exasperation after repeatedly being asked to pass through a metal detector.{{Cite web |date=2003-03-31 |title=Deputy minister charged with public indecency |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2003-03-31-deputy-minister-charged-with-public-indecency/ |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{People's Assembly (South Africa)|id=susan-shabangu|name=Susan Shabangu}}
- [https://www.sahistory.org.za/people/susan-shabangu Susan Shabangu] at South African History Online
{{Jacob Zuma cabinet 1}}
{{Jacob Zuma cabinet 2}}
{{Ramaphosa first cabinet}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Sabangu, Susan}}
Category:20th-century South African women politicians
Category:21st-century South African women politicians
Category:Place of birth missing (living people)
Category:African National Congress politicians
Category:Government ministers of South Africa
Category:Members of the National Assembly of South Africa 2004–2009
Category:Members of the National Assembly of South Africa 2009–2014
Category:Members of the National Assembly of South Africa 2014–2019
Category:Members of the National Assembly of South Africa 2019–2024
Category:South African women trade unionists
Category:Women government ministers of South Africa
Category:Women members of the National Assembly of South Africa
Category:Members of the National Assembly of South Africa 1994–1999
Category:Members of the National Assembly of South Africa 1999–2004