Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri
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| President of South Africa Acting position |
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| In office 25 September 2008 (14 hours) |
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| Preceded by | Thabo Mbeki |
| Succeeded by | Kgalema Motlanthe |
| Minister of Communications, Telecommunications and Postal Services | |
| In office June 1999 – 6 April 2009 |
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| President | Thabo Mbeki Kgalema Motlanthe |
| Preceded by | Jay Naidoo |
| Succeeded by | Siphiwe Nyanda |
| 2nd Premier of the Free State | |
| In office 18 December 1996 – 15 June 1999 |
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| Preceded by | Mosiuoa Lekota |
| Succeeded by | Winkie Direko |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 18 September 1937 Kroonstad, South Africa |
| Died | 6 April 2009 (aged 71) Pretoria, South Africa |
| Political party | African National Congress |
| Alma mater | University of Fort Hare Rutgers University, Newark |
Ivy Florence Matsepe-Casaburri (born September 18, 1937 – died April 6, 2009) was an important South African politician. She made history as the first woman to be the Premier of the Free State province. She also served as South Africa's Minister of Communications from 1999 until she passed away.
Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri briefly became South Africa's acting president in 2005. This happened when both the President and Deputy President were out of the country. She was also chosen to be the official head of state for 14 hours on September 25, 2008. This was a short time between the resignation of President Thabo Mbeki and when Kgalema Motlanthe took office. She was the first, and so far only, woman to hold the position of President in South Africa. She was also the first woman to be head of state since Elizabeth II was Queen of South Africa in 1961.
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Early Life and Education
Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri was born on September 18, 1937. Her hometown was Kroonstad in the Free State, South Africa. Her parents were both teachers. Her father was also a musician and sportsman.
Ivy went to primary school in Kroonstad. She then attended secondary school in Kwa-Zulu Natal. After that, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Fort Hare University. She taught in KwaZulu-Natal for two years after graduating.
Years in Exile
When Ivy was 28 years old, she left South Africa and went into exile. This means she lived outside her home country, often for political reasons. She did not return to South Africa for 25 years.
She first worked as a teacher in Swaziland for about ten years. Later, she moved to the United States. While in exile, she continued her education. She studied for her postgraduate degrees in the United States. She earned her PhD in Sociology from Rutgers University-New Brunswick. She also worked as a lecturer and registrar for the United Nations Institute for Namibia, which was based in Zimbabwe.
Important Roles in Government
Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri held many important positions in South Africa. She was known for being a trailblazer, especially for women.
Premier of the Free State
From 1996 to 1999, she served as the Premier of the Free State province. She was the first woman to hold this high position.
Minister of Communications
From June 1999 until her death in April 2009, she was the Minister of Communications. In this role, she was in charge of things like phones, internet, and postal services for the country.
Acting President of South Africa
Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri briefly served as South Africa's acting president in 2005. This happened when both the President and Deputy President were out of the country.
She was also chosen to be the official head of state for 14 hours on September 25, 2008. This was a very short time between the resignation of President Thabo Mbeki and when Kgalema Motlanthe took office. She was the first, and so far only, woman to hold the post of President in South Africa.
Other Leadership Roles
- She was a Member of Parliament in the National Assembly from 1999 to 2009.
- She was the Chairperson of Sentech. She was the first black person and first woman to lead this company.
- She was also the Chairperson of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC). She was the first woman and first black person to hold this role.
- She worked as a lecturer and associate professor at Rutgers University.
- She was a senior lecturer and Registrar at the United Nations Institute for Namibia.
- She was a Director for the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research.
Death
Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri passed away on April 6, 2009. She died of natural causes while she was still serving as the Minister of Communications.
See also
In Spanish: Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri para niños
