Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma has congratulated former Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka on being appointed as the Executive Director of UN Women, an international agency of the United Nations, promoting equality for women.
Mlambo-Ngcuka succeeds former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet as executive director of the organisation.
“On behalf of government and the people of South Africa, we congratulate the former Deputy President on this crucial appointment. It is a true measure of recognition not only of her contribution to the advancement of women in South Africa, but also an acknowledgement of the considerably influential and progressive role that South Africa and its people continue to play in the global affairs,” Zuma said.
UN secretary-general Ban Ki-Moon's spokesman, Martin Nesirky, was quoted by media as saying Mlambo-Ngcuka brings to this position a wealth of experience in advocating for women's issues with a combination of strategic leadership, consensus building and hands-on management experience.
Mlambo-Ngcuka, 57, was elected to parliament in South Africa's first democratic elections in 1994. She served as deputy minister of trade and industry from 1996 to 1999, minister of minerals and energy from 1999 to 2005 and deputy president of South Africa from 2005 to 2008. – SAnews.gov.za
