Politician and anti-apartheid activist. Went into exile in 1980 and joined the ANC and then Umkhonto weSizwe and became a member of the South African Communist Party (SACP). On return from exile in 1990 she served as an official in the relaunched SACP. She was deputy minister of welfare and population development from 1995 till 1996 when she became the minister. She was minister of public service and administration from 1999 to 2008.