Profile of the Deputy Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform

Mr. Lechesa Tsenoli , The Deputy Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform was born in Bultfontein and grew up in Bloemfontein in the Free State Province. He has been a public representative for The African National Congress for the past 18 years in the national assembly and for one term of five years in the Free State.

He is an immediate past Chairperson of the portfolio committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) since 2004 till October last year when he was promoted to his current post. He briefly chaired the Portfolio Committee on Arts and Culture early in 2004.

He is a former member of Executive Council for Local Government and Housing in the Free State province (1999 to 2004). He served on the portfolio committee that oversaw the legal programme of the new local government system in the country, for which he was well-qualified, having served as the co-chairperson of the Local Government Negotiating forum in the early 90s.

He has certificates in adult education and public policy facilitation, and is a graduate of the international program of the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland on Organisation and Systems Development. A keen lifelong learner, he is a student leadership, organisational and life coach.

He describes himself as a lifelong activist. He is founding past deputy and later national president of the South African National Civic Organisation, a former publicity secretary of the United Democratic Front in Natal, and is currently a member of the central committee of the South African Communist Party.