Yvonne Nkwenkwezi "Pinky" Phosa (born 4 September 1956) is a South African politician who served as a Member of the National Assembly for the African National Congress from 2014 until 2019. She was the chairperson of parliament's Standing Committee on Appropriations from 2016 until 2019. Before her election to Parliament, she served in the Mpumalanga provincial government. Phosa is the wife of former ANC treasurer-general and previous Mpumalanga premier Mathews Phosa.

Pinky Phosa
Member of the National Assembly of South Africa
In office
21 May 2014 – 7 May 2019
ConstituencyMpumalanga
Mpumalanga MEC for Economic Development, Environment and Tourism
In office
19 February 2013 – 7 May 2014
PremierDavid Mabuza
Preceded byNorman Mokoena
Succeeded byEric Kholwane
Mpumalanga MEC for Finance
In office
12 May 2009 – 18 February 2013
PremierDavid Mabuza
Preceded byJabu Mahlangu
Succeeded byMadala Masuku
Speaker of the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature
In office
May 2004 – 5 May 2009
Preceded bySipho William Lubisi
Succeeded byJackson Mthembu
Member of the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature
In office
1999–2014
Personal details
Born (1956-09-04) 4 September 1956 (age 67)
NationalitySouth African
Political partyAfrican National Congress
SpouseMathews Phosa
Alma materUniversity of the North
Damelin Business School
UNISA
Wits Business School
ProfessionPolitician

Early life and education edit

Phosa was born on 4 September 1956. She obtained a BA degree in social work from University of the North in 1990. In 1988, she studied at Damelin Business School and received a certificate in business management. She obtained her master's degree in public administration from the University of Pretoria in 1998. In 2006, Phosa achieved a certificate in public finance from the University of South Africa. From Wits Business School, she attained a certificate in governance and leadership in 2012 and a diploma in governance and leadership in 2013.[1]

Political career edit

Phosa is a member of the African National Congress. She served on the Nelspruit Transitional Council from 1993 until 1999. In the 1999 election, she was elected to the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature. She was appointed deputy speaker of the legislature. She was promoted to speaker after the 2004 election.[1] David Mabuza was elected the provincial premier in the April 2009 election. He selected Phosa to be the MEC (Member of the Executive Council) for Finance.[2] He later moved her to the Economic Development, Environment and Tourism portfolio in February 2013.[3]

Following the 2014 general election, Phosa was sworn in as a Member of the National Assembly.[4] She was first the chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training before she was elected head of the Standing Committee on Appropriations in May 2016.[5] Phosa was not selected as an ANC parliamentary candidate for the 2019 election.[6] As a result, her last day as a parliamentarian was on 7 May 2019.

In March 2022, Phosa was appointed as South Africa's ambassador to Cuba and the Dominican Republic.[7]

Personal life edit

Phosa is married to Mathews Phosa, the former Premier of Mpumalanga and the former ANC treasurer-general. They had two daughters and a son together. Phosa's eldest daughter died in January 2020.[8]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "MEC Mrs Yvonne Nkwenkwezi 'Pinky' Phosa profile". Mpumalanga Government. Archived from the original on 5 March 2014. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  2. ^ Masinga, Sydney; Mogakane, Tshwarelo (13 May 2009). "Mpuma Premier announces his new cabinet". www.sanews.gov.za. Johannesburg. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  3. ^ "SA: Statement by David Mabuza, Mpumalanga Premier, on Mpumalanga Cabinet reshuffling (18/02/2013)". Polity. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  4. ^ "ANC sends MECs to parliament". Lowvelder. Mbombela. 13 May 2014. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  5. ^ "Parliament on election of new Standing Committee on Appropriations Chairperson". www.gov.za. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  6. ^ Mkhwanazi, Siyabonga (23 March 2019). "Several MPs not returning to Parliament after exclusion from ANC list". IOL. Cape Town. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  7. ^ "Pinky Phosa appointed as SA ambassador to Cuba and Dominican Republic". Lowvelder. 4 March 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  8. ^ Khoza, Mandla (20 January 2020). "Politician Mathews Phosa mourns death of eldest daughter Moya". SowetanLIVE. Retrieved 18 July 2020.

External links edit