Mrs Angela Thokozile Didiza
National AssemblySpeaker of the National Assembly, Representative to the Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum
Party: African National Congress (National List)
Profile
Ms. Didiza was the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform, and Rural Development during the Sixth Parliament. She was first elected to Parliament in 1994 and was the first woman Deputy Minister of Agriculture from 1994 until 1999.
She served as the Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs from 1999 until 2004 and continued in her position as the Minister of Land Affairs and Agriculture from 2004 until 2006. She was appointed as Minister of Public Works in 2006 and served in this position until 2008. Previously Ms Didiza served as National Assembly House Chairperson for Internal Arrangements and as Chairperson of the Ad Hoc Committee to Amend Section 25 of the Constitution.
Before becoming a Member of Parliament, Ms. Didiza worked in several organizations in various capacities, including as the secretary-general of the Women's National Coalition that produced the Women’s Charter for Effective Equality, which was tabled in the First Parliament. Ms. Didiza holds, among others, a BA degree majoring in sociology and politics and an Honours Degree in politics.
The Speaker is the political head of Assembly and has the responsibility to preside over the sittings of the House, its internal committees (such as NA Rules Committee and NA Programming Committee), exercise executive authority, provide strategic direction, and ensure the House effectively discharges its constitutional functions.