Current Positions

• Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development since 11 May 2009.
• Member of Parliament for the African National Congress (ANC) since 1994.

Positions last Held

• House Chairperson of the National Assembly (2008 - 2009)
• Acting Chief Whip of the Majority Party (ANC) (2006 - 2007)
• Deputy Chief Whip of the Majority Party  (ANC) (2002 - 2008)
• Whip: Portfolio Committee on Justice and also House Whip (2000 - 2002)
• Served on the Portfolio Commitees on Justice & Constitutional Development, Correctional Services, Health, Home Affairs, Communications; the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa); various Ad hoc committees as well as internal parliamentary committees such as the Rules, Joint Rules and Programme Committees, the Chief Whips' Forum and Parliamentary Oversight Authority.
• Served on the Constitutional Assembly committee dealing with the judiciary and legal system.

Academic Qualifications

• B Civil Law from the University of Pretoria.

 Career/Memberships/Positions/Other Activities

• Co-ordinator: National Legal & Monitoring Team, ANC National Elections Team.
• Member of the National Executive Committee of the ANC Youth League (1996 - 2001).
• Co-ordinator of Lawyers for Human Rights' Capital Punishment and Penal Reform Project (1990 - 1994).
• Member of  ANC structures at branch and regional level in the Pretoria area. 
• Involved in the National Union of South Africa Students (NUSAS), South African Student Press Union (SASPU), Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), Students for Human Rights and the End Conscription Campaign (ECC) 
• Active in politics since high school in Sao Paulo, Brazil

Personal

• Date of Birth: 2 October 1965
• Marital status: Married