21 Facts About Derek Hanekom

Derek Andre Hanekom was born on 13 January 1953 and is a South African retired politician, activist and former cabinet minister currently serving as the interim Chairman of South African Airways.

Derek Hanekom is currently serving as a presidential envoy for South Africa mandated to promote investment with a focus on tourism.

Derek Hanekom was previously Minister of Tourism from 27 February 2018 until 29 May 2019.

Derek Hanekom previously served as Minister of Science and Technology from October 2012 until 2014.

Derek Hanekom was Deputy Minister of Science and Technology having served under the then-Presidents Kgalema Motlanthe and Thabo Mbeki, and former President Jacob Zuma in May 2009.

Derek Hanekom has a strong African National Congress history having served three years in prison for the work he did for the ANC during apartheid, with his wife Trish Hanekom who served three years for her involvement.

Derek Hanekom is a former Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs, having served under the Mandela administration.

Derek Hanekom was a member of the ANC National Executive Committee from 1994 to 2022 and the NEC deployee to the Western Cape - the only province the ANC does not govern.

Derek Hanekom was born in Cape Town, South Africa on 13 January 1953.

Derek Hanekom spent his school career in Cape Town, attending the German Primary School and then matriculating from prominent Afrikaans school, Jan van Riebeeck High School in 1970.

Derek Hanekom went on to complete his compulsory conscription in the South African Defence Force between 1971 and 1973.

Thereafter, Derek Hanekom travelled abroad where he worked for various organisations including working on farms, factories and building sites.

Derek Hanekom then returned to South Africa in his early twenties where he continued farming.

Patricia and Derek Hanekom fed information to the parent body ANC, such as the apartheid Defence Force's attempts to overthrow the Mozambican government through the rebel movement, Renamo.

Under founding democratic President Nelson Mandela, Derek Hanekom was appointed Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs from 1996 to 1999.

From 1999 to 2004, Derek Hanekom served as a Member of Parliament on various Parliamentary Committees.

Derek Hanekom was replaced as Minister of Tourism on 31 March 2017 but remained an ANC member of parliament after he filed a motion of no confidence against President Jacob Zuma.

Derek Hanekom was a member of the ANC's National Executive Committee since 1994; National Working Committee; Chairperson of the National Disciplinary Committee and NEC Convener of the Western Cape.

Derek Hanekom serves as the Deputy Chairperson of the Board of the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation.

Ahead of the ANC's 55th National Conference in December 2022, Derek Hanekom announced that he had declined the nomination for another term on the ANC NEC and would be retiring from politics at the conference.

Derek Hanekom said in an interview with Eyewitness News that he would continue being "critical voice" in the party.