14 Facts About Penuell Maduna

Penuell Mpapa Maduna was born on 29 December 1952 and is a South African politician and businessman.

An anti-apartheid activist in his youth, Maduna was appointed to President Nelson Mandela's government in 1994.

Penuell Maduna resigned from politics in 2004 and is a businessman.

Penuell Maduna's mother and grandmother were both domestic workers, and the latter was a member of the African National Congress.

Penuell Maduna was detained and charged in the aftermath of the 1976 Soweto uprising, and, once released, spent the 1980s in exile with the ANC, which was banned inside South Africa at the time.

Penuell Maduna's exile included spells in Maputo, Mozambique, where he lived with Albie Sachs; in New York; and at the ANC headquarters in Lusaka, Zambia.

Penuell Maduna served in that office for a single term, resigning from the cabinet and from politics after the 2004 elections.

Penuell Maduna has since become chairperson of SAB Zenzele, a black economic empowerment partner of South African Breweries.

Penuell Maduna has held senior positions at law firm Bowman Gilfillan, and business interests in platinum mining, property, and banking.

In June 1997, Penuell Maduna claimed in Parliament that the Auditor-General, Henry Kluever, had covered up R170-million in theft at the Strategic Fuel Fund.

The Public Protector, Selby Baqwa, subsequently found that by making this claim Penuell Maduna had "violated the spirit of the Constitution," and he recommended that disciplinary action should be taken against Penuell Maduna.

In October 1997, Penuell Maduna was one of several ANC politicians whom opposition MP Patricia de Lille publicly accused of having spied for the apartheid government.

In 2003, Penuell Maduna became embroiled in controversy around the National Prosecuting Authority, then led by Bulelani Ngcuka and overseen by Penuell Maduna's ministry.

The terms of reference of the Hefer Commission, a judicial commission of inquiry into allegations against Ngcuka, were extended to investigate whether Penuell Maduna had abused his powers at the NPA, and Penuell Maduna announced shortly afterwards that he intended to step down after the 2004 elections.