Current Positions

Ms Mokonyane was appointed as the Minister of Environmental Affairs on 22 November 2018. She was previously Minister of Communications from 27 February 2018 and Minister of Water and Sanitation with effect from 26 May 2014 to 26 February 2018. She has been a member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature from 1994. Ms Mokonyane is a member of the African National Congress (ANC) National Executive Committee (NEC). She is also a head of the Gauteng Organising and Campaign Committee.

Academic Qualifications

Ms Mokonyane received training in Local Government Planning Management and Community Development in Sweden.

She completed a Certificate course in Emerging Economics from the Wharton Business School at Pennsylvania University in the United States of America (USA); a Certificate in Economics and Finance from Harvard Business School and a Certificate in Project Planning. She also studied Leadership and Governance at Harvard University in the USA.

Career/Positions/Memberships/Other Activities

Ms Mokonyane participated actively in the struggle against apartheid from the age of 15. During that period she became a member of the Young Christian Students and she was a founder member of the Congress of South African Students.

She is a former activist and leader of the civic movement Kagiso Residents Organisation; a former shop-steward and leader of the Commercial Catering and Allied Workers Union of South Africa now the South African Commercial Catering and Allied Workers Union. She has served in various leadership capacities in the ANC and its alliance structures including as a member of the Central Committee of the South African Communist Party (SACP) NEC member of the ANC Women?s League (ANCWL) and NEC member of the ANC since 1994.

Ms Mokonyane has served in the Gauteng Legislature in various portfolio committees and becamewas a member of the United Democratic Fronta member and organiser of the Federation of Transvaal Women chairperson of the ANC?s West Rand branch deputy chairperson of the ANCWL; a member of the SACP Central Committee and a member of the ANCWL NEC.

She has also served as a chairperson of the Housing Subc-Committee; as Member of the Executive Council(MEC)of Agriculture Conservation and Environment from 1996 to 1999; MEC of Safety and Liaison from 1999 to 2004; and as MEC of Housing from 2004 to 2009.

Ms Mokonyane championed the process that led to Sterkfontein being awarded the status of a World Heritage Site and she established three Metro Police structures during her tenure. She also established victims support centres at police stations; and established a one stop centre at a provincial level for victims of sexual offences and domestic violence in Braamfontein Johannesburg called Ikhaya le Themba- 'Home of Hope'.

Ms Mokonyane initiated the championing policy and the housing delivery strategy; she promoted and fostered partnerships and ensured that there was an administration that served people with care. She was committed to promoting women enterprises in the construction and housing sector and led the Twenty Priority Township Programme which was aimed at renewal of Gauteng's old townships.
Ms Mokonyane was the premier of Gauteng from 6 May 2009 until 20 May 2014.