Rosemary Capa

Rosemary Nokuzola Capa (born 24 October 1952),^[1] also known as Zoleka Capa, is a South African politician who is currently serving as Deputy Minister of Agriculture since June 2024. She previously served as Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Land Reform since August 2021 to June 2024. She was Deputy Minister of Small Business Development from May 2019 to August 2021. A member of the African National Congress, she has been a Member of the National Assembly since May 2014. From June 2014 to May 2019, she was the chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Social Development.

Rosemary Capa MP
Deputy Minister of Agriculture
Incumbent
Assumed office 30 June 2024
President	Cyril Ramaphosa
Minister	John Steenhuisen
Preceded by	Office established
Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Land Reform
In office 6 August 2021 – 19 June 2024
President	Cyril Ramaphosa
Preceded by	Sdumo Dlamini
Succeeded by	Herself as Deputy Minister of Agriculture Stanley Mathabatha as Deputy Minister of Land Reform and Rural Development
Deputy Minister of Small Business Development
In office 30 May 2019 – 5 August 2021
President	Cyril Ramaphosa
Preceded by	Cassel Mathale
Succeeded by	Sdumo Dlamini
Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Social Development
In office 25 June 2014 – 7 May 2019
Preceded by	Yolanda Botha
Succeeded by	Mondli Gungubele
Member of the National Assembly of South Africa
Incumbent
Assumed office 21 May 2014
Personal details
Born	(1952-10-24) 24 October 1952 (age 72)
Nationality	South African
Political party	African National Congress
Spouse	Ndumiso Capa

Early life and career

Capa was born in Flagstaff in the Cape Province (now part of the Eastern Cape) during apartheid.^[2] She qualified as a nurse and midwife while a trainee at the Holy Cross Hospital in Flagstaff.^[2] After the end of apartheid, she spent two terms as the Executive Mayor of the OR Tambo District Municipality.^[2] In late 2010, she joined the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature^[2] and was appointed to the Executive Council of the Eastern Cape as Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Rural Development and Agrarian Reform.^[3][4]

Career in national politics

Committee chairperson

Capa was elected to the National Assembly of South Africa following the general election on 8 May 2014. She was sworn into office on 21 May 2014.^[5] The ANC soon announced that Capa was their candidate for chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Social Development. She was elected chairperson on 25 June 2014.^[6]

Capa served as chairperson of the portfolio committee until the dissolution of the term on 7 May 2019.^[5]

Deputy Minister

Following the general election of 8 May 2019, Capa returned to Parliament on 22 May 2019.^[5] On 29 May 2019, President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed her Deputy Minister of Small Business Development.^[7] Capa was sworn in the next day.^[8]

On 5 August 2021, she was appointed as Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Land Reform.^[9]

Personal life

She is married to politician Ndumiso Capa.^[2][10] Their daughter Ntandokazi Capa is a Member of the Executive Council in the Eastern Cape.^[11]