Former government official forms part of Unisa

Ms Didiza served in the position of Minister of Public Works during former President Thabo Mbeki’s reign. She resigned from office in 2008 and is currently the project consultant for the Archie Mafeje Research Institute at Unisa, writes Busisiwe Mahlangu.

Ms Thoko Didiza’s work experience is vast, as her career began early in her life in 1985 while on a three-month contract at a recruitment agency. Things soon began moving rapidly for her as she occupied positions of influence in the varied fields of youth and women, the legal world and, lastly, politics.

Prior to her entry into government, she worked for three months in a recruitment agency and later went on to work as a receptionist and legal secretary at Mafika Mbuli and Co, a law firm in Durban. From then on she worked as a receptionist at the Diakonia an Ecumenical Church organisation.

“I moved within the ranks and became the Programme Officer for the Social Action Network . The work entailed mobilising churches around the Durban area to take up social issues that affected their communities. In 1989, I joined the South African Council of World Affiliated YWCA as its National Youth Coordinator. As part of my involvement in women and youth activities, I served as a representative of the YWCA in the SACC Women’s Ministries forum. I was also a member of the National Youth Coordinating Committee (NYDCC) and was part of the founders of the young women’s network. I also worked at Diakonia’s Social Action Network and was the co-ordinator of the National Youth Programme.”

Her notable achievements include facilitating the International Youth Leadership Training in Oslo, Norway, in 1992, being an alternative member of the Executive SACC and a member of Council of the National Youth Development Forum in 1993. She served as an executive member of the SACC development and training ministries in 1993 and was a Young Global Leader in 2005.

Being part of the activism towards the upliftment of women culminated in contributing to the drafting of the Women’s Charter. The Charter focused on equality and what women wanted to see in South Africa. This, in Ms Didiza’s opinion, formed the core of her interest and work and through her achievements, the upliftment of women was realised.

Another issue where she was able to make an impact was in the development of youth. As part of the NYDCC’s work with various youth formations, they were able to raise the issue of youth marginalisation on the national agenda. A national conference was convened by the Joint Education Trust to highlight the plight of young people who, at the time, felt on the margins of society. It is the resolutions of this conference and many other initiatives that laid the basis for the need to develop a national youth development strategy which later gave rise to the national youth development policy.

Incredibly, when she entered parliament of the South African government in 1994, the ruling party, the ANC, appointed her as the Deputy Minister of Agriculture.  In 1997 she served on the National Executive Committee of the ANC. In 1999, she was appointed the Minister of Agriculture and Land and served in this position until 2006.  It was during that year she was appointed Minister of Public Works, a position she resigned from in 2008. She served both under the Leadership of former Presidents Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki.

“Age to me was not a problem. I was young as compared to the other people when I was appointed into these positions of great responsibility and accountability. What humbled me the most though was the fact that Former Presidents Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki saw that I could contribute to the developing future of South Africa.  Age did not deter me from my interest in political issues as I was always conscious about making a contribution to uplift that status of society.

“I made a choice whilst still in high school that I am going to change the conditions of our people. Our people lived and worked in bitter conditions. The impact of apartheid knew no age and in my view, the consequences of such a regime affected us equally. Similarly, it was the ANC policies that appealed to me to change our country and liberalise South Africa.”

When she began her work in the agricultural sector, she was met with a few challenges as she had little knowledge of the sector. According to her, the responsibility of giving political leadership in a sector that was generally perceived as male dominated  came with challenges as well as opportunities.

“Issues of culture and perception about women’s capabilities in public office were at times reflected by different constituencies. It became inevitable that if one had to succeed, a better appreciation and understanding of the sector was important.”

Secondly, engaging with various constituencies within the sector was important to understand concerns, but also for them to understand government policy and the underlying reasons for taking particular decisions in government. Thirdly, retaining a professional relationship with the administration as a policy maker was important to ensure that they too understand the policy imperatives that had to be taken from time to time, while they also express and give sound professional advise on issues of the sector.”

“Given that this was a transition, it became necessary to ensure that there is synergy between administrative officials who were perceived to be from the old order and those who are new. Building a team was one of the critical tasks that had to be fulfilled. And at all times, I was guided by the Constitution of South Africa in order to provide for our people.”

Although born to parent teachers, it was not until she was working in parliament that she was able to put herself through university. This, she says, was due to the low income that her parents earned which propelled her to look at what she could do after finishing high school.

She finally registered for a secretarial course which opened doors to studying journalism, human resources and later financial management. She obtained a BA degree in Sociology and Politics and later an honours degree in Politics through Unisa.

Ms Didiza confirms the importance of empowering oneself with education. For her, gaining and understanding theoretical and practical knowledge to excel in her work was a vital anchor in transforming the agricultural sector. She understood that part of what forms the economics of the country is agriculture in its diversity.

Throughout Ms Didiza’s achievements, her loving family was by her side. “The support from my mother, husband and children meant that I was able to balance my work life with that of my family. I studied with my children while they were doing their homework. I could not fail and neither could they.”

When she resigned from government in 2008, Ms Didiza was enlisted to the position of project manager for the Archie Mafeje Institute for Applied Social Policy Research (AMRI). It is a policy research institute established in 2011, based at Unisa, and is dedicated to promoting the legacy of Archie Mafeje.

Ms Didiza values her work experience garnered through the years in government. She suggests that government and Unisa are not far removed from each other in terms of what they stand for. Her attraction to the university stems from its beliefs, policies, vision of the institution, self-development, to mention but a few.

She’s an inspiration to many and will utilise her leadership skills to chart the way forward for the AMRI. She ended the interview by motivating alumni to adopt the notion of hard work in whatever they do.

“Believe that we have to serve humanity, service and volunteer in order to help the good of society. If you do that, issues of respect, honesty and integrity will be paramount.”