12 Facts About Edna Molewa

Bomo Edith Edna Molewa, formerly known as Edna Sethema, was a South African politician and member of the African National Congress.

Edna Molewa was involved in South Africa's liberation movement from 1976 through 1990.

In 1994 Edna Molewa became the first female Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry, and in 1996 went on to serve as a member of the Executive Council on Tourism, Environment and Conservation.

Edna Molewa was a member of the Executive Council on Economic Development and Tourism from 1998 through 2000.

Between 2000 and 2004 Edna Molewa was a member of the Executive Council on Agriculture, Conservation and Environment Affairs.

In May 2014, the department was split and Edna Molewa became minister of the new Department of Environmental Affairs, a position she held until her death in September 2018.

Edna Molewa was the Head of Communications of the African National Congress Women's League between 2013 and 2015, and a member of the organization's National Executive Council since 2003.

Edna Molewa's administration supported research into the efficacy of legalizing an international rhinoceros horn trade and began programs for translocation of rhino from high-risk areas to low-risk areas both nationally and internationally, and the sale of more than 200 white rhino to private buyers.

Edna Molewa announced that a 22-member commission would decide whether to propose the international sale of the South African government's 21 metric ton rhino horn stockpile.

In January 2017 Edna Molewa opened a public consultation for the approval of a yearly export quota of 800 lion skeletons from the captive bred lion industry to be used in Asia as fake tiger bone wine, in particular supplied to Lao PDR, Vietnam and Thailand.

Edna Molewa attended the University of South Africa where she gained her Bachelor of Commerce.

Edna Molewa was placed in an induced coma after failing to respond to medical treatment.