10 Facts About Loretta Jacobus

Loretta Jacobus represented the African National Congress in the National Assembly from 2004 to 2013.

Loretta Jacobus was active in the anti-apartheid struggle and represented the South African Communist Party during the multi-party constitutional negotiations of 1993.

Loretta Jacobus was born on 6 April 1962 in Port Elizabeth in the former Cape Province.

Loretta Jacobus studied social work at the University of the Western Cape and in the 1980s was a teacher and social worker in the Transvaal, where she was active in anti-apartheid organising through affiliates of the United Democratic Front, notably the South African Youth Congress and the Federation of Transvaal Women.

Loretta Jacobus later served as provincial treasurer of the SACP in Gauteng from 1991 to 1994.

In South Africa's first post-apartheid elections in 1994, Loretta Jacobus was elected to represent the ANC in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature.

Loretta Jacobus chaired the Portfolio Committee on Arts and Culture.

However, soon afterwards, the party clarified that several of those who had resigned were still willing to serve under Mbeki's successor, and Loretta Jacobus was indeed reappointed to her position by President Kgalema Motlanthe when he took office later that week.

Loretta Jacobus remained an ordinary Member of Parliament until 1 August 2013, when she resigned.

Loretta Jacobus was formerly married to Antonio Bastardo-Ibanez; they divorced in 1997.