Police in South Africa are looking into the murder of Tina Joemat-Pettersson, an African National Congress (ANC) lawmaker who was recently embroiled in a bribery controversy.
There are rumors that her 59-year-old death two weeks ago may not have been brought on by natural causes.
She was one of three MPs charged with attempting to extort about $33,000 (£26,000) in bribe money from the spouse of suspended Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane in order to have her impeachment investigation “go away” before she passed away.
All three of them refuted the charges. Mkhwebane published several audio recordings of talks last week, in which she claimed Joemat-Pettersson could be heard requesting the funds.
Joemat-Pettersson was a personal friend and minister in former President Jacob Zuma’s cabinet from 2009 to 2017.
Born in Kimberley, Joemat-Pettersson attended William Pescod High School. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Executive Management in Education from the University of Cape Town as well as a Bachelor of Arts in English and History and a Higher Diploma in Education from the University of the Western Cape. Joemat-Pettersson worked as an educator before becoming active in politics.
Joemat-Pettersson was elected to the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature in the 1994 general elections as a member of the African National Congress. Having entered the provincial legislature, she was appointed the Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Education, Arts and Culture. After the 1999 general elections when she was appointed MEC for only the education portfolio. She became the MEC for Agriculture and Land Reform in 2004.
Following the 2009 general elections, Joemat-Pettersson entered the National Assembly of South Africa. Thereafter, she was appointed Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in the First Cabinet of Jacob Zuma. After the 2014 general elections, Joemat-Pettersson became the Minister of Energy in the second cabinet of Jacob Zuma.
She was fired as a minister in a cabinet reshuffle in March 2017 and then resigned her seat in the National Assembly. Joemat-Pettersson returned to the National Assembly after the 2019 general elections, was elected to chair the Portfolio Committee on Police.
