Dr. Grace Naledi Mandisa Pandor

Dr. Grace Naledi Mandisa Pandor, born on 7 December 1953, served as South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation from 2019 to2024. During her tenure, she was part of the the South African cabinet team that initiated the genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice. Dr. Pandor became a Member of Parliament in 1994 and has since amassed extensive experience public office. She served as the Deputy Chief Whip of the African National Congress in the National Assembly from 1995 to 1998, as the Deputy Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces in 1998, and then as its Chairperson from 1999 to . With a background in education policy planning, Dr Pandor was appointed as South Africa’s Minister of Education in 2004. She has held several cabinet portfolios, including Minister of Education (2004-2009), Minister of Science and Technology (2009-2012), Minister of Home Affairs (2012-2014), Minister of Science and Technology (2014-2018); and Minister of Higher Education and Training (2018-19). Dr. Pandor holds a Ph.D. from the University of Pretoria (2019) and has received honorary doctorates from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, University of Stellenbosch, and the University of Lisbon in Portugal, and the University College Dublin in Ireland. Upon being awarded Germany’s highest federal honor, the Grand Cross of Merit, the German Ambassador to South Africa, Walter Lindner, said: “Pandor is for us a symbol of the new South Africa: modern, innovative, dedicated to scientific progress and also outstanding female leadership”. Dr Pandor is married to Mr Sharif Pandor, and they have four children and seven grandchildren.