Foreign Minister Alfred Nzo today announced the appointment of the following new heads of South African diplomatic and consular missions:
Mrs T E Mazibuko-Skweyiya Ambassador: Paris, France
Mrs Thuthukile Mazibuko-Skweyiya (45) is at present Deputy Director-General in the Department of Foreign Affairs, responsible for Asia and the Middle East. She also served as Acting Director-General during the first six months of 1998, and has had the additional responsibility of serving as Acting Deputy Director-General for Europe and the Americas since March 1998. Mrs Skweyiya holds a Masters Degree in Philosophy (Teaching) from the Karl Marx University in Leipzig. Her educational background also includes a Diploma in Trade Unionism from the Fritz-Heckert High School for Trade Unions in the former East Berlin and a three month course on Practical Management Methods at the Industrial Society in London. She applied these skills by successfully organising workshops for South African women in Lusaka on personal skills in communication, problem solving techniques and career planning.
During this period Mrs Skweyiya worked for the South African Congress of Trade Unions in Dar-es-Salaam and was elected chairperson of the ANC Women Students Union in East Germany. Since 1990 Mrs Skweyiya served in various leadership positions in the ANC Women's League in the Natal area. She was also involved with student affairs at the University of Natal and served as Coordinator for the South African Advanced Education Project.
Ms S V M Sisulu Ambassador: Washington, USA
Ms Sheila Sisulu (49) has served South Africa as Consul-General in New York since 1997. She holds a BA degree from the University of Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland and a B Ed degree from the University of the Witwatersrand.
Throughout her career Ms Sisulu was particularly active in the field of education. Over a period of ten years, between 1978 and 1988, she held various positions in the South African Committee for Higher Education (SACHED).
From 1988 to 1991 Ms Sisulu was the Education Coordinator of the African Bursary Fund of the South African Council of Churches, assisting member churches and organisations to develop a critical understanding of the issues, developments and debates in education. She became Director of the Joint Enrichment Project (JEP) - a Youth Service Organisation - in 1991, a position she held until 1994. Ms Sisulu's wide-ranging experience in the educational field culminated in her appointment as Special Advisor to the Minister of Education in 1994.
Mr J K N Mamabolo Ambassador: OAU, Addis Ababa
Mr Kingsley Mamabolo (43) joined the Department of Foreign Affairs in 1994 and is currently serving as South Africa's High Commissioner in Harare. Mr Mamabolo holds a diploma in Sociology from the University in Moscow and a diploma in Journalism from the Polytechnic in Harare. He attended courses in International Relations and Diplomacy in France, Belgium, the UK, Norway, Germany and South Africa. Mr Mamabolo was Deputy ANC Representative in Tanzania and Zimbabwe, and later Chief ANC Representative in Mozambique, Cuba and Zimbabwe. He was a regular member of the ANC delegation to OAU Conferences in Dar-es-Salaam and a member of the ANC delegation led by the late Mr Oliver Thambo to the Children's Conference in Harare and the Non-aligned Meeting held in that country. His international experience also includes representing the ANC at FAO Conferences in Rome on numerous occasions.
Mr S G Nene Permanent Representative: UN Mission, Geneva, Switzerland
Mr George Nene (50) will be completing a four year term as South Africa's first High Commissioner to Nigeria before taking up his new post in Geneva. His tertiary education includes studies in education at the University of Zululand, as well as courses in International Relations and Diplomacy in France, Belgium, the UK, Norway, Germany and South Africa.
While serving the ANC abroad, he was an instructor in politics, journalism and education. Before joining the Department of Foreign Affairs in 1994, Mr Nene served as Chief ANC Representative in Nigeria, in which capacity he was also accredited to Benin, Togo and Ghana.
Mr L L A Mnguni High Commissioner: Port Louis, Mauritius
Mr Louis Mnguni (44) became a member of the National Assembly in 1994 where he has served on the Portfolio Committees of Foreign Affairs, Education and the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) and was an alternate member of the Safety and Security Portfolio Committee.
Mr Mnguni holds a BA Hons degree (Philosophy) from the University of the North where he also lectured in the Department of Philosophy until 1994. He obtained a Masters Degree from Glasgow University and completed a New School University Foreign Officials Course.
Mr Mnguni was President of the United Democratic Front Northern Transvaal as well as a member of the UDF National Executive between 1986 and 1991. He also served as Secretary to the Black Staff Association of the University of the North and Branch Executive member of UDUSA-Unin. He was the Northern Transvaal Coordinator for the African Scholarship Programme between 1990 and 1991 and ANC PEC member for Northern Province between 1992 and 1994. During 1993 and 1994 he was ANC overall elections coordinator for Northern Province.
Mr Y Saloojee Ambassador: Abu Dhabi, UAE
Mr Yusuf Saloojee (54) took up his post as South African Ambassador in Abu Dhabi at the end of 1998.
He was ANC Chief Representative to Canada between 1977 and 1989, after which he served at the ANC Head Quarters in Lusaka until September 1990. Between 1990 and 1994 he was ANC Head of Administration, and Secretary for International Affairs between September 1994 and September 1997. During his active political career, he attended many major conferences and liaised with political parties of many countries. Mr Saloojee's educational background includes various courses at the Johannesburg Training Institute for Indian Teachers, the University of Zambia and the Ontario Department of Education.
Consular appointments:
Ms Thami Ngwevela : Consul-General, New York
Mr Rapu Molekane Consul-General, Munich, Germany
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
PRETORIA
11 JANUARY 1999