Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri Explained

Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri
Order:Acting
Office:President of South Africa
Deputy:None
Appointer:Cabinet of South Africa
Term:24 September 2008 - 25 September 2008
Predecessor:Thabo Mbeki
Successor:Kgalema Motlanthe
Office1:Minister of Communications, Telecommunications and Postal Services
President1:Thabo Mbeki
Kgalema Motlanthe
Term Start1:17 June 1999
Term End1:6 April 2009
Predecessor1:Jay Naidoo
Successor1:Siphiwe Nyanda
Office2:2nd Premier of the Free State
Term Start2:18 December 1996
Term End2:15 June 1999
Predecessor2:Mosiuoa Lekota
Successor2:Winkie Direko
Birth Date:18 September 1937
Birth Place:Kroonstad, South Africa
Death Place:Pretoria, South Africa
Party:African National Congress
Alma Mater:University of Fort Hare
Rutgers University, Newark

Ivy Florence Matsepe-Casaburri (18 September 1937  - 6 April 2009) was a South African politician. She was the 2nd premier of the Free State and South Africa's Minister of Communications from 1999 until her death. She served briefly as South Africa's acting president in 2005,[1] when both President Thabo Mbeki and the deputy president were outside the country. Furthermore, she was chosen by the cabinet to be the constitutional and official head of state in an interim capacity for 14 hours on 25 September 2008, between the resignation of Thabo Mbeki and the taking of office by Kgalema Motlanthe.[2] [3] She was the first woman to have held the post of president in South Africa and the first woman to be head of state of South Africa since Elizabeth II's reign as Queen of South Africa ended in 1961. She remained the only woman with this distinction until July 2021, when Angie Motshekga was appointed acting president.

Early life

Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri was born on 18 September 1937 in Kroonstad in the Free State. Her father was a principal, musician and sportsman and her mother was a teacher, and a social and community worker. She completed her primary education in Kroonstad and attended secondary school in Kwa-Zulu Natal.[4] She then obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree from Fort Hare University and proceeded to teach in KZN for two years.[5]

Exile

At the age of 28, she went into exile and would return to South Africa only 25 years later. She first worked in Swaziland as a teacher for at least ten years before she moved to the United States.[6] During her time in exile, she furthered her education. She went to the United States where she undertook her postgraduate studies. She worked for the United Nations Institute for Namibia as a lecturer and registrar, based in Zimbabwe.[7] She obtained her PhD in sociology from Rutgers University-New Brunswick.[8]

Professional life

She served briefly as South Africa's acting president in 2005,[9] when both President Thabo Mbeki and the deputy president were outside the country. Furthermore, she was chosen by the cabinet to be the constitutional and official head of state in an interim capacity for 14 hours on 25 September 2008, between the resignation of Thabo Mbeki and the taking of office by Kgalema Motlanthe.[10] [11] She was the first and to date only woman to have held the post of president in South Africa and the first woman to be head of state of South Africa since Elizabeth II's reign as Queen of South Africa in 1961.

Offices held

Death

She died of natural causes on 6 April 2009 during her term in office as the Minister of Communications.[13]

External links

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Notes and References

  1. http://www.info.gov.za/speeches/2005/05091515451001.htm Acting President for period 14 September to 18 September 2005
  2. News: Angela. Quintal. No wars, no drama for Matsepe-Casaburri. The Mercury. 2. 2008-09-26. 2009-04-22.
  3. News: Frank. Chikane. Emotional farewell as Mbeki holds last cabinet meeting. Daily Nation. 2012-04-28. 2016-08-26.
  4. Book: The Mail & Guardian A-Z of South African Politics: The Esseantial Handbook. Ludman. Barbara. Stuber. Paul. Jacana Media. Johannesburg. 2004. 70–71. 1770090231.
  5. Web site: Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri. SA history.org. 17 February 2011. SAHO. 5 January 2018.
  6. Book: Shattered, Cracked, or Firmly Intact? Women and the Executive Glass Ceiling Worldwide. Jalalzai. Farida. Oxford University Press. New York. 2013. 190. 9780199943531.
  7. Web site: Dr Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri. Sabinet history.org. 17 February 2011. SAHO. 5 January 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180918193948/http://www.sabinetlaw.co.za/dr-ivy-matsepe-casaburri. 18 September 2018. dead.
  8. Web site: Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri. IT Web. Vecchiatto. Paul. 7 April 2009. IT Web. 5 January 2018.
  9. http://www.info.gov.za/speeches/2005/05091515451001.htm Acting President for period 14 September to 18 September 2005
  10. News: Angela. Quintal. No wars, no drama for Matsepe-Casaburri. The Mercury. 2. 2008-09-26. 2009-04-22.
  11. News: Frank. Chikane. Emotional farewell as Mbeki holds last cabinet meeting. Daily Nation. 2012-04-28. 2016-08-26.
  12. Web site: Dr Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri. Who’s Who SA. Who’s Who SA. 5 January 2018. 10 February 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180210203734/http://whoswho.co.za/ivy-matsepe-casaburri-916. dead.
  13. Web site: Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri dead at 71. Mail&Guardian. 7 April 2009. Mail&Guardian. 5 January 2018.