Tina Joemat-Pettersson Biography: Net Worth, Spouse, Age, Instagram, Nationality

Tina Joemat-Pettersson is a famous South African politician who has held many positions in government and parliament.

She is known for her involvement in agriculture, forestry, fisheries and energy. She is also a vocal advocate for women’s rights, education and social justice.

She is a loyal member of the African National Congress (ANC) and a close ally of former President Jacob Zuma.

Many people admired her courage, charisma, and goodwill, but she faced criticism and controversy for some of her decisions and actions.

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  • Full name: Tina Monica Joemat-Pettersson
  • Date of birth: December 16, 1963
  • Age: 60 years old (at the time of her death)
  • Female
  • Place of birth: Kimberley, South Africa
  • Nationality: South African
  • Occupation: Politician
  • Height: 1.65 m
  • Parents: John Joemat and Monica Joemat
  • Siblings: Not applicable
  • Spouse: Thorvald Pettersson (deceased)
  • Children: Two
  • Relationship status: Widowed
  • Net worth: 5 million USD

Early Life & Education

Tina Joemat-Pettersson, 60 years old when she dies in 2023, was born on December 16, 1963 in Kimberley, South Africa.

She is the only child of John and Monica Joemat, both teachers and activists. She grew up in a politically conscious family and was exposed to the struggles of the oppressed and marginalized in South Africa.

She was a member of the Azanian Student Organization (AZASO) and participated in the anti-apartheid movement.

She was also a labor activist and joined the National Education Union of South Africa (NEUSA) and the National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (NEHAWU).

She studied at the University of Cape Town and the University of the Western Cape, where she earned Executive Management degrees in Education, English and History and a Diploma in Education.

She worked as an educator before entering politics. She taught at various schools in the Northern Cape and Western Cape and was also a lecturer at the University of the Western Cape.

Personal life

Tina Joemat-Pettersson married Thorvald Pettersson, a Swedish national, in 1991.

They met in Sweden while she was on a study tour sponsored by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA). They have two children, a boy and a girl.

Thorvald Pettersson was a businessman and philanthropist who supported various South African causes, especially education and health. He died in 2006 after a long illness.

Tina Joemat-Pettersson was devastated by his death and described him as her confidant and best friend. She never remarried and remained a devoted mother to her children.

Career

Tina Joemat-Pettersson began her political career in 1994 when she was elected to the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature as a member of the ANC.

She became a Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Education, Arts and Culture in the same year. She is responsible for improving the quality of education and promoting cultural diversity in the province.

She also initiated several projects and programs aimed at empowering women, youth and rural communities. She served as MEC for Education from 1999 to 2004 and MEC for Agriculture and Land Reform from 2004 to 2009.

She was instrumental in developing the agricultural sector and facilitating land reform and compensation in the Northern Cape.

She entered the South African Parliament in 2009 and was appointed Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in Jacob Zuma’s first Cabinet.

She oversaw the implementation of various policies and strategies to enhance food security, support small-scale farmers and protect the country’s natural resources and biodiversity.

She also defended the interests of women and workers in the agricultural sector.

She faced many challenges and controversies during her tenure, such as allegations of corruption, mismanagement, and abuse of power.

She was accused of irregularly awarding contracts, wasting public funds and interfering in the work of state units.

She was also involved in a legal dispute with the Public Protector over its investigation of a controversial lease for the ministry’s headquarters.

She became Minister of Energy in 2014 and served until 2017 under President Zuma. She is tasked with ensuring energy security and availability in South Africa, while promoting the development of renewable and nuclear energy.

She was a key figure in the negotiations with Russia and the US over the proposed nuclear deal, which were widely criticized by the opposition, civil society and the media as secretive, expensive and risky. ro.

She was also accused of irregularly awarding contracts to independent power producers and failing to comply with parliamentary oversight and public consultation processes. She was dismissed by President Zuma in 2017 in a cabinet reshuffle.

She returned to Parliament in 2019 and became Chair of the Police Portfolio Committee. She is responsible for overseeing the performance and accountability of the police and security agencies.

She also served on the ad hoc committee of the Section 194 Inquiry into the fitness of suspended Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane. She supported the impeachment of Mkhwebane, who was accused of misconduct, incompetence and constitutional violations.

She ran for ANC Deputy Secretary-General in 2018 but lost by a narrow margin to Nomvula Mokonyane.

She remained loyal to the ANC and its leadership despite factional divisions and power struggles within the party. She is considered one of the most experienced and influential female politicians in the country.

Net value

Tina Joemat-Pettersson had an estimated net worth of $5 million when she passed away. She earned her wealth from her salary as a politician and investments in various businesses.

She also inherited some assets from her late husband, a wealthy businessman.

Death

Tina Joemat-Pettersson passed away on June 5, 2023 in Rondebosch, Cape Town, South Africa. She died of a heart attack after a long battle with diabetes.

She was admitted to the hospital a few days before her death and was in critical condition. She was surrounded by family and friends when she passed away. She was 59 years old.

Her death was mourned by the president, the government, parliament, the ANC and the public. She was praised for her contributions to the development and transformation of South Africa, especially in the fields of education, agriculture and energy.

She is also remembered for her passion, courage and charisma. She was given a state funeral and buried in Kimberley, her hometown.

Argumentative

Tina Joemat-Pettersson has been no stranger to controversy and scandal throughout her political career.

She is frequently accused by critics and opponents of corruption, mismanagement and abuse of power. Some of the most notable controversies she faced were:

Lease contract for the headquarters of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries: She was investigated by the Public Protection Agency for allegedly signing an illegal and inflated lease contract for new offices of the ministry in Pretoria in 2011.

The deal was worth R500 million and was awarded to a company linked to her friends and associates. She was found to have acted inappropriately and recklessly and was forced to return some of the money.

She challenged these findings in court and maintained her innocence and that she was a victim.

Nuclear deal with Russia: She has been involved in negotiations with Russia over the proposed nuclear deal, which is estimated to be worth R1 trillion and would see South Africa purchase eight nuclear reactors from Russia.

She signed a secret deal with Russia in 2014 without consulting the cabinet, parliament or the public.

She was accused of undermining the constitution, rule of law and national interests. She defended the deal as being in line with the government’s energy policy and vision. The court and the new administration eventually annulled the agreement.

Contracts of independent power producers: She was accused of irregularly awarding contracts to independent power producers (IPPs) to supply renewable energy to the national grid.

It is alleged that she ignored the advice and objections of state electricity company Eskom, which said the contracts were unaffordable and unnecessary.

It was also alleged that she favored certain IPPs over others and received kickbacks and benefits thereof. She denied the accusations and affirmed that the contracts were transparent and beneficial to the country.

Social Media

  • Instagram handle name: Not applicable
  • Twitter name: Not applicable

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