Ivy Matsepe Casaburri
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Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri was a prominent South African politician and academic who made significant contributions to the country's post-apartheid governance and development. Born on September 18, 1937, in Kroonstad, in the Free State province, she grew up during the harsh era of apartheid, which shaped her commitment to education and social justice.
Matsepe-Casaburri pursued higher education at the University of Fort Hare, where she completed her Bachelor of Arts degree. She later earned a Master’s degree in Sociology from Rutgers University in the United States. Her academic background played a pivotal role in her career, as she became a teacher and later an academic, focusing on community development and the empowerment of marginalized communities.
During the apartheid era, she was active in the anti-apartheid movement, which led to her exile in the United States, where she continued her studies and advocacy work. In the early 1990s, as apartheid began to crumble, Matsepe-Casaburri returned to South Africa and became increasingly involved in the country's political transition.
She was appointed as the Premier of the Free State in 1996, becoming the first woman to hold the position. Her tenure as Premier was marked by efforts to promote development and improve the living conditions in the province. In 1999, she was appointed as the Minister of Communications, a position she held until her death in 2009. In this role, Matsepe-Casaburri was instrumental in advancing South Africa’s telecommunications infrastructure and promoting the use of information and communication technology (ICT) to drive development.
In a historic moment, Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri served as the Acting President of South Africa on two occasions, first in 2005 and then again in 2008, making her the first woman to hold the position, even if only temporarily.
Matsepe-Casaburri passed away on April 6, 2009, but her legacy as a trailblazer in South African politics and her contributions to the country's development remain significant.
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GOVERNING TIME LINE
Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri did not officially rule South Africa as a president, but she did serve as Acting President of South Africa on two occasions. These instances occurred when President Thabo Mbeki was out of the country:
1. **September 25, 2005:** Matsepe-Casaburri briefly served as Acting President after Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, who was supposed to act in Mbeki’s absence, had to return from a trip to Saudi Arabia. This made Matsepe-Casaburri the next in line to assume the role temporarily.
2. **September 2008:** She again served as Acting President for a short period after Thabo Mbeki resigned and before Kgalema Motlanthe was sworn in as the new President.
While her role as Acting President was temporary and procedural, it was historically significant as she became the first woman to hold the position in South Africa, even if only in an acting capacity.