Early life
Sisulu was born to ANC leaders Walter and Albertina Sisulu in Johannesburg.She is the sister of journalist Zwelakhe Sisulu and politician Max Sisulu.From 1975 to 1976 Sisulu was detained for her anti-apartheid activities. During her exile from 1977 to 1979 she joined the military wing of the ANC, Umkhonto we Sizwe, specializing in Intelligence.
Education
In 1973, Lindiwe Sisulu graduated from Waterford Kamhlaba United World College of Southern Africa in Mbabane, Swaziland. In 1980, Sisulu received a BA degree and Diploma in Education, and in 1981 received a BA Hons in History from the University of Swaziland. She also received an MA in History, and in 1989 an MPhil from the Centre for Southern African Studies at the University of York.Publications
- R Cohen, ed. (1991). "Women at Work and Liberation Struggle in the 1980s". Themes in the twentieth century South Africa. Oxford University Press.
- (1990). "South African Women in Agricultural Sector" (pamphlet), York University.
- "Women Working Conditions in South Africa". South African Situation Analysis. National Children's Rights Committee, UNESCO. 1992.
- Housing Delivery and the Freedom charter: the beacon of hope, new agenda. 2005, second quarter.
Awards
- 1992: Human Rights Center Fellowship in Geneva.
- 2004: Presidential Award for Housing delivery by the Institute for Housing of South Africa.
- 2005: International Association for Housing Science Award.
Controversies
Lindiwe Sisulu's flagship housing project called the N2 Gateway has been embroiled in a number of controversies. Joe Slovo Informal Settlement has adamantly refused to be relocated to Delft, Cape Town to make way for government bond and free houses. After a protest by Joe Slovo residents, Sisulu drew significant criticism from civic groups for saying "if they choose not to cooperate with government, they will be completely removed from all housing waiting lists.” A spate of letters exchanged between Sisulu and UWC Professor Martin Legassick also received attention because Legassick called into question Sisulu's refusal to meet directly with the residents of Joe Slovo.In December 2007, the N2 Gateway also was host to the largest occupation of houses in the country's history. The result has been the displacement of thousands of families into Temporary Relocation Areas and onto the pavement in Symphony Way.
In September 2009, she appointed Paul Ngobeni as her legal advisor. This appointment was immediately challenged from various quarters, including Parliament's Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) and the Standing Committee on Defense, due to the fact that he is not qualified to practise law in South Africa and has been disbarred from practising law in the USA where he also faces criminal charges of fraud, larceny and petty theft.
Sisulu became embroiled in a controversy in November 2012 when Parliament accused her of over-using executive jet flights during her tenure as Minister of Defence and Military Veterans. She was accused of making 203 trips with the South African Air Force rented Gulfstream plane, however due to administrative failures, this figure was incorrect and an apology was issued. She had actually only made 35 trips.
In April 2013, she appointed Menzi Simelane as her legal advisor. In a judgement (in October 2012) finding him unfit to be appointed as head of the National Prosecuting Authority, Constitutional Court Judge Zac Jacoob said "[We] conclude that the evidence was contradictory and on its face indicative of Mr Simelane's honesty. It raises serious questions about Mr Simelane's conscientiousness, integrity, and credibility."
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