Matsie Angelina "Angie" Motshekga (born 19 June 1955) is aSouth African politician and educator who is currently serving as theMinister of Defense and Military Veterans since 3 July 2024.[1] She served as theacting president of the Republic of South Africa from the 17th August 2024, while PresidentCyril Ramaphosa attended the 44th Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government of theSouthern African Development Community inHarare,Zimbabwe.[2] Motshekga also served as theMinister of Basic Education from May 2009 to 2024. She was previously aMember of the Executive Council in theGauteng provincial government. Motshekga is a member of theAfrican National Congress. She is a former president of the party'swomen's league.
Motshekga was born on 19 June 1955 inSoweto,Transvaal Province.[3] She received her primary school education from different schools in Soweto. She matriculated from a boarding school inMatatiele.[3] Motshekga studied at theUniversity of the North, where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education. From theUniversity of the Witwatersrand, Motshekga obtained a Bachelor of Educational Science degree and a master's degree.[4]
In 1981, Motshekga was employed as a teacher at Orlando High School. She worked at the school until 1983, when she resigned following her appointment as a lecturer at the Soweto College of Education. Motshekga became a lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrand in 1985. She lectured at the university until 1994.[4]
During the 1980s, Motshekga was a member of the Soweto Education Crisis Committee that later formed part of the National Education Coordinating Committee.[3] She held membership of theUnited Democratic Front. She was also a member of the National Education Union of South Africa.[3] Motshekga was active in the Pimville Civic Association.[4]
Motshekga was the National Convenor of Teacher Unity talks that led to the formation ofSouth African Democratic Teachers Union.[3] She was the regional chair of theAfrican National Congress Women's League in the party's former Kyalami region.[3] From 1994 to 1997, she worked as a director in the office of the presidency. She was elected Deputy Provincial Secretary of the ANCWL in 1997.[4]
After the1999 general election, Motshekga was sworn in as a member of theGauteng Provincial Legislature. She was named the chairperson of the legislature's education committee. In 2000, premierMbhazima Shilowa appointed her to the Social Development portfolio of the Executive Council. After the2004 general election, Motshekga returned to the legislature for her second term. Shilowa moved her to the Education portfolio.[4]
Motshekga was elected the national president of the ANC women's league in 2008, defeating the league's secretary-generalBathabile Dlamini. She received 1,826 votes.[5]
Motshekga was elected to theNational Assembly in April 2009. Newly elected presidentJacob Zuma unbundled the Education portfolio into two new, separate ministries. Motshekga was appointedMinister of Basic Education.[6] She took office on 11 May 2009. During her first term, textbooks were not delivered to impoverished Limpopo schools between December 2011 and June 2012.[7] She faced calls to resign or be removed, but she remained in the position.[8]
Following the2014 general election, Zuma retained Motshekga in her position.[9] Bathabile Dlamini unseated her as women's league president in August 2015.[10] In 2017, she ran for ANC national president under the women's league banner without asking for permission.[11] The league criticised Motshekga and later endorsedNkosazana Dlamini-Zuma for the ANC presidency.[12]
Zuma resigned as South African president in February 2018 and deputy presidentCyril Ramaphosa was designated as his successor. Ramaphosa kept Motshekga in her position.[13][14] In 2019, she became the longest-serving education minister in South African history.[15] She was re-elected as an MP in that year'sgeneral election. She remained as minister of basic education.[16][17]
On 15 February 2021, Motshekga said to pupils atProspectus High School inPretoria that an "educated man won't rape". Her comment caused outrage. She responded by saying that her comment was taken out of context.[18][19]
In 2014, Motshekga claimed that the standard of question papers had increased[20] after an English exam paper riddled with basic spelling and grammar errors was given to learners.[21] In 2022 a mathematics examination paper included a problem that was unsolvable due to a typing error.[22] The error was not picked up before the paper was given and Motshekga's department will decide whether an upward mark adjustment of 1% or 2% is necessary.
She was appointed asacting president of the Republic of South Africa on 2 July 2021, as PresidentCyril Ramaphosa attended the state funeral ofKenneth Kaunda inZambia.[23]
Following the2024 South African general election she became theMinister of Defence and Military Veterans.[24][1]
In January 2025, Motshekga stated that theM23 offensive against South African positions in theDemocratic Republic of the Congo, resulting in the death of 13 South African peacekeepers, was only alleviated after President Ramaphosa told theRwandan government that continued attacks would be interpreted by South Africa as a "declaration of war" by Rwanda.[25]
Since 2023, Motshekga has been a member of the United Nations High-Level Panel on the Teaching Profession, co-chaired byKersti Kaljulaid andPaula-Mae Weekes.[26]
Motshekga is married to formerPremier of Gauteng and former ANC chief whip,Mathole Motshekga. They have children and grandchildren.[27]
