- Stella Sigcau
Princess Stella Sigcau (
4 January 1937 or14 January 1937 –May 7 ,2006 ) is best known as a Minister in theSouth Africa n Government. Sigcau was also the first female Prime Minister of theTranskei before being deposed in a military coupcite news
title=Stella Sigcau dead at 69
url=http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articleid=271050&area=/breaking_news/breaking_news__national/
publisher=Mail&Guardian
date=2006-05-08
accessdate=2007-12-14] in 1987.Early life and career
She was the daughter of King
Botha Sigcau of the AmaMpondo tribe who was a former President of the Transkei in 1937. Her brothers are KingThandizulu Sigcau and the late ANC actvist and Member of ParliamentNKosi Ntsikayezwe Sigcau . She named Nkosi Ntsikayezwe Sigcau's daughter HRH Princess Stella Sigcau II (Founder: Lwandlolubomvu Rural Development Project; Founder and Festival Director: Ntsikayezwe Lamampondo Cultural and Heritage Festival) after her. Sigcau graduated from theLoveday Institute in 1954 before marrying Ronald Tshabalala in 1962. She taught in a number of schools in Natal during the 1960s.Transkei politics
In 1968, she was elected in Transkei representing the seat of
Lusikisiki . Prior to the granting of so-called independence, she held a number of portfolios. After independence, she held the portfolios of Interior Affairs and Posts and Telecommunications. She became the leader of theTranskei National Independence Party on 5 October, 1987 and became the third Prime Minister of the Transkei two days later. Her term as Prime Minister did not last long as she was overthrown in a coup by GeneralBantu Holomisa .outh African politics
Transkei was absorbed back into South Africa on 27 April, 1994. Sigcau stood for election as a candidate on the
African National Congress party list and was successful.Nelson Mandela named her as Minister for Public Enterprises in 1994 and she served in that role, which involved attempts at transforming the face ofSouth African Airways and South African Railways until 1999. She then became Minister for Public Works and served in that capacity until her death in 2006 of heart failure.References
* [http://www.polity.org.za/html/people/NCABINET/sigcau_s.html South African Cabinet biography of Stella Sigcau]
* [http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,19068923-23109,00.html"The Australian" "Anti-apartheid leader dies" May 8, 2006]
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