Pinky Kekana Biography
Pinky Kekana is a South African politician who is currently serving as the Deputy Minister in the Presidency. She is also an African Union diplomat and a patron of the Pan African Business Women’s Association.
She was first appointed to the national executive in February 2018 by President Cyril Ramaphosa. She is a member of the African National Congress and its National Executive Committee.
Pinky Kekana Age
Pinky Kekana is 58 years old as of 2024.
Pinky Kekana Early Life and Education
Pinky Kekana was born on 14 July 1966 in Bela-Bela, a town in the Limpopo province of South Africa. She grew up during the apartheid era, which was a system of racial segregation and oppression that lasted from 1948 to 1994. She witnessed the injustices and inequalities that affected the black majority in her country.
She attended Bela-Bela High School, where she excelled academically and participated in various extracurricular activities. She was also involved in the student movement that challenged the apartheid regime and demanded democratic rights and freedoms. She joined the African National Congress (ANC), the main liberation movement and political party in South Africa, at a young age. She became a vocal and active member of the ANC Youth League and the ANC Women’s League.
After completing her high school education, she enrolled at the University of the North, now known as the University of Limpopo, where she pursued a Bachelor of Arts degree in education.
She specialized in teaching and learning, and developed an interest in curriculum development and policy making. She graduated with her degree in 1988 and started her career as a secondary school teacher at Bela-Bela High School, the same school she had attended as a student.
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Pinky Kekana Career and Political Offices
Pinky Kekana started her political career as a student activist during the apartheid era, when she joined the ANC Youth League and the ANC Women’s League. She was inspired by the late Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, whom she considered her role model. She also worked as a secondary school teacher in Bela-Bela, her hometown, after obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree in education from the University of the North (now Limpopo).
Kekana was first elected to the Limpopo Provincial Legislature in 1999, representing the ANC. She served as the Executive Mayor of the Waterberg District Municipality from 2008 to 2009, where she initiated several development projects and programmes.
She was also elected as the Deputy Provincial Secretary of the ANC in Limpopo in 2008, serving under Provincial Chairperson Cassel Mathale and Provincial Secretary Joe Maswanganyi.
In 2009, Kekana was re-elected to the provincial legislature and appointed as the Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Roads and Transport by Mathale, who became the Premier of Limpopo. She oversaw the improvement and maintenance of the provincial road network and the provision of public transport services.
In 2012, Kekana was moved to the portfolio of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism, where she was responsible for stimulating economic growth, creating jobs, and protecting the natural resources and biodiversity of the province.
In 2014, Kekana was elected to the National Assembly of South Africa, where she served in various parliamentary committees, such as Communications, Telecommunications and Postal Services, and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs. She also participated in several international delegations and forums, such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.
In 2018, Kekana was appointed as the Deputy Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies by President Cyril Ramaphosa, who had succeeded Jacob Zuma as the leader of the ANC and the country. She played a key role in advancing the digital transformation agenda, enhancing the media diversity and freedom, and regulating the information and communication sector. In 2021, she was appointed as the Deputy Minister in the Presidency, where she continues to serve the nation with diligence and dedication.
Pinky Kekana Personal Life
Pinky Kekana was married to Jerry Manyama, but they divorced. She has one son, Grant Kekana, who is a professional soccer player and a defender for Bafana Bafana, the South African national team.
Pinky Kekana Net worth
Pinky Kekana has an estimated net worth of 500,000 as of 2024.
