Essop Pahad
Encyclopedia
Essop Goolam Pahad is a South Africa
n politician. He was Minister in the Presidency from 1999 to September 2008.
province. He is an alumnus of both the University of the Witwatersrand
and the University of Sussex
. He started his academic career with a Bachelor of Arts
degree in Political Science
at Wits
. At the University of Sussex
, he completed a Master of Arts
in African Politics as well as his PhD
in History. The title of his thesis was "The Development of Indian Political Movements in South Africa 1924 - 1946."
. In December 1964, Pahad was banned for five years and went into exile. While in exile, Pahad became more actively involved with the ANC and the SACP. He represented the SACP on the editorial council for the World Marxist Review.
, Pahad served as the Parliamentary Counsellor to then-Deputy President Thabo Mbeki
. He was appointed as the Minister in the Presidency after the 1999 general election
. In 2000 it was reported that at a closed session of the ANC's governance committee Pahad tried to quash an the inquiry into corruption in the Arms Deal
, an accusation that Pahad denies despite numerous reports to the contrary.
Pahad was also involved in raising R1.55 million from corporate sponsors to hire Ronald Suresh Roberts
to write a biography of then President Mbeki.
After Mbeki's resignation as President of South Africa in September 2008, Pahad submitted his resignation as Minister,
Pahad currently is the Chairman of the Board of the South Africa/Mali Timbuktu Manuscripts Trust as well as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the South African Democracy Education Trust, a Member of Parliament, and sits on the National Executive Committee of the African National Congress. Since leaving government in 2008 Pahad has launched a South African monthly journal named The Thinker.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n politician. He was Minister in the Presidency from 1999 to September 2008.
Early life
Pahad was born in Schweizer-Reneke in the former TransvaalTransvaal Province
Transvaal Province was a province of the Union of South Africa from 1910 to 1961, and of its successor, the Republic of South Africa, from 1961 until the end of apartheid in 1994 when a new constitution subdivided it.-History:...
province. He is an alumnus of both the University of the Witwatersrand
University of the Witwatersrand
The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg is a South African university situated in the northern areas of central Johannesburg. It is more commonly known as Wits University...
and the University of Sussex
University of Sussex
The University of Sussex is an English public research university situated next to the East Sussex village of Falmer, within the city of Brighton and Hove. The University received its Royal Charter in August 1961....
. He started his academic career with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in Political Science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
at Wits
Wits
Wits, WITS may mean:* Web Intelligence Training System* a popular nickname of University of the Witwatersrand* Wellsite Information Transfer Standard, superseded by WITSMLHuman names:* Hermann Witsius...
. At the University of Sussex
University of Sussex
The University of Sussex is an English public research university situated next to the East Sussex village of Falmer, within the city of Brighton and Hove. The University received its Royal Charter in August 1961....
, he completed a Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in African Politics as well as his PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in History. The title of his thesis was "The Development of Indian Political Movements in South Africa 1924 - 1946."
Political career
His political career began in 1958 when he became a member of the Transvaal Indian Youth Congress. In 1962 Pahad was arrested for organising an illegal strike, following the banning of the African National CongressAfrican National Congress
The African National Congress is South Africa's governing Africanist political party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in April 1994. It defines itself as a...
. In December 1964, Pahad was banned for five years and went into exile. While in exile, Pahad became more actively involved with the ANC and the SACP. He represented the SACP on the editorial council for the World Marxist Review.
Career in government
After the 1994 democratic electionSouth African general election, 1994
The South African general election of 1994 was an election held in South Africa to mark the end of apartheid, therefore also the first held with universal adult suffrage. The election was conducted under the direction of the Independent Electoral Commission .Millions queued in lines over a three...
, Pahad served as the Parliamentary Counsellor to then-Deputy President Thabo Mbeki
Thabo Mbeki
Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki is a South African politician who served two terms as the second post-apartheid President of South Africa from 14 June 1999 to 24 September 2008. He is also the brother of Moeletsi Mbeki...
. He was appointed as the Minister in the Presidency after the 1999 general election
South African general election, 1999
South Africa's second non-racial general election, held on 2 June 1999 was won by the African National Congress , who increased their number of seats by 14. Notable was the sharp decline of the New National Party, previously the National Party , who without former president F.W. de Klerk lost more...
. In 2000 it was reported that at a closed session of the ANC's governance committee Pahad tried to quash an the inquiry into corruption in the Arms Deal
South African Arms Deal
The South African Arms Deal was a US$4.8 billion purchase of weaponry by the South African Government finalised in 1999 which has been subject to allegations of corruption....
, an accusation that Pahad denies despite numerous reports to the contrary.
Pahad was also involved in raising R1.55 million from corporate sponsors to hire Ronald Suresh Roberts
Ronald Suresh Roberts
Ronald Suresh Roberts, also known as RSR, is a Trinidadian biographer and columnist. He currently lives in South Africa.-Early life:Roberts was born and raised in Trinidad and Tobago...
to write a biography of then President Mbeki.
After Mbeki's resignation as President of South Africa in September 2008, Pahad submitted his resignation as Minister,
Post-2008
Pahad was a member of the Organising Committee of the 2010 World Cup, to be held in South Africa, and claimed in 2008 that South African whites wanted the event to be a failure. An independent survey by Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) reported in January 2010 that South African whites in fact generally support the event.Pahad currently is the Chairman of the Board of the South Africa/Mali Timbuktu Manuscripts Trust as well as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the South African Democracy Education Trust, a Member of Parliament, and sits on the National Executive Committee of the African National Congress. Since leaving government in 2008 Pahad has launched a South African monthly journal named The Thinker.