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The African National Congress (ANC) congratulates National Spokesperson Jessie Duarte on her new appointment as Chief Operations Officer (COO) in the Presidency, which comes into effect in September. Comrade Jessie, who has for the past two years been ANC National Spokesperson, will be based at the Union Buildings where she will replace Trevor Fowler.
A member of the ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) and National Working Committee (NWC), Comrade Jessie has been the voice and face of the movement in the media and other public platforms - a task she has performed exceptionally well. The ANC Communications Department will continue to play the crucial role of explaining party policy, resolutions and campaigns, with Secretary General Gwede Mantashe and the communications team filling the void until the ANC announces Comrade Jessie's replacement.
Comrade Jessie's pro-active and hands-on leadership style will certainly be a positive in her new role in the Presidency. She brings to Government a solid political background and vast experience in management systems.
Comrade Jessie was a member of the Gauteng Legislature from 1994 to 1999, becoming the first woman MEC for Safety and Security in the province. She later became South Africa's High Commissioner to Mozambique and oversaw the relationship between the government of Mozambique and South Africa. During that period, South African investment in Mozambique reached more than R20 billion. She also worked on strengthening the party-to-party relationships between the ruling Frelimo and the ANC.
In 2002, Comrade Jessie was appointed Chief Director for Africa Multilateral Affairs in the Department of Foreign Affairs. In 2004 she was promoted to the level of Deputy Director General. Her responsibilities included managing relationships South Africa maintains with the SDC, the African Union and NEPAD. Her responsibilities also included the management of relationships with all government departments who had programmes on the African continent.