Steenhuisen has been criticised for only having matric as his highest qualification
Democratic Alliance (DA) leader and Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen is going back to school.
Steenhuisen has often come under criticism for only having matric as his highest qualification.
He has been in politics since 2000 and was elected to the Port Elizabeth City Council in 2013.
Watch John Steenhuisen enroling at Unisa
Watch | Hon. J@jsteenhuisen said that Unisa provides him the flexibility to work and study, allowing him to continue with his qualification. His areas of interest include management, public policy, governance, and change management, which he plans to focus on for further… pic.twitter.com/3nQ5mj7QS6
— Unisa (@unisa) October 31, 2024
Back to school
With many politicians having tertiary qualifications, Steenhuisen has enrolled at the University of South Africa (Unisa) to bolster his academic qualifications.
Steenhuisen visited Professor Puleng LenkaBula, the vice-chancellor of Unisa following his decision to study further.
The agriculture minister said Unisa provides him the flexibility to work and study allowing him to continue with his qualification.
The Minister of Agriculture, Hon. John Steenhuisen, visited Prof. Puleng @LenkaBula, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of South Africa, on Thursday, 31 October 2024. Steenhuisen is making a return to study with Unisa. pic.twitter.com/72dkUjN4LF
— Unisa (@unisa) October 31, 2024
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Area of interest
Steenhuisen’s areas of interest include management, public policy, governance, and change management, which he plans to focus on for further upskilling.
Lenkabula said: “In addition to his prospects of studying with Unisa, Steenhuisen’s visit was to expound on how universities work with the public and private sectors, and communities in enhancing the benefits of agriculture in our country and our world.”
GNU qualifications
South Africa, under the new government of national unity (GNU), now has a larger cabinet, with ministers’ educational qualifications ranging from Matric to PhD.
African National Congress (ANC) President Cyril Ramaphosa holds a law degree from Unisa.
According to the presidency’s website, “Ramaphosa has also received several honorary doctorates from local and international universities, including the University of Massachusetts, the University of Cape Town, the National University of Lesotho, the University of KwaZulu-Natal, and the University of the North”.
The DA’s Ivan Meyer, obtained a Ph.D. in Public Administration at the University of Stellenbosch, as well as a number of international certificates and diplomas while Siviwe Gwarube, the current minister of Basic Education possesses a BA degree in Law, Politics, and Philosophy from Rhodes University.
Gwarube also obtained her honours in Political Science and Government at the University of the Western Cape.
Non-GNU qualifications
Politicians not in the GNU also hold several tertiary qualifications.
ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting which he obtained from the University of South Africa (Unisa).
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema completed a two-year diploma in youth development through Unisa. He also obtained a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Communications and African languages at Unisa. He also has a BA Honours degree in Philosophy.
Former EFF deputy president and now uMkhonto weSizwe member Floyd Shivambu earned a bachelor’s degree as well as an honours degree in Political Studies and International Relations at the University of Witwatersrand (Wits).
Shivambu also acquired a Master’s degree in Political Sciences at Wits.
Additional reporting by Enkosi Selane
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