Dipuo Peters


Elizabeth Dipuo Peters was the Minister of Transport of the Republic of South Africa from 10 July 2013 until 30 March 2017, in the Zuma administration, and former Minister of Energy from 2009-2013 having served as successor to Manne Dipico as the second Premier of the Northern Cape Province, 22 April 2004 to 10 May 2009. A member of the African National Congress, she serves on the Women's League National Executive Committee. Dipuo Peters resigned as a member of parliament for the African National Congress in April 2017.

Education

Peters went to school at Tidimalo Junior Secondary and Tshireleco Senior Secondary in Kimberley. She subsequently studied for a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work from the University of the North. She subsequently studied for a Certificate in Development and Public Policy from the University of the Western Cape ; a Certificate in Executive Management from the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business ; and a Certificate in International Policy Management, from Havana, Cuba.

Political career

Dipuo Peters joined the Young Christian Students, where her political activism began. She participated in Youth Formations in the church and community.
She was Deputy Chairperson of the Women's Forum in AZASO which later became SASCO at the University of the North.
In Kimberley she was a member of the Galeshewe Youth Congress, an affiliate of the United Democratic Front. She worked as a volunteer regional organiser for the South African Domestic Worker's Union, recruiting, organising, educating and counseling domestic workers in the Northern Cape.
From 1987 to 1990 Peters was Head of the Women's Department at the South African Youth Congress. In 1990 she joined the African National Congress Youth League as the secretary for Women’s Affairs, having been Woman Organiser of the National Executive Council of the South African Youth Congress, 1987 to 1990. Former Transport Minister Dipuo Peters stated she resigned as an ANC Member of Parliament to focus on her health and her family.
Other positions include:.
On 5 April 2017, a few days after being dismissed as Minister of Transport, Ms Peters resigned as a member of the Parliament of South Africa, citing health reasons and the uncertainty of the past two years as her reasons for leaving politics.

Controversy and e-tolling in Gauteng

Dipuo Peters, in conjunction with other alleged beneficiaries of SANRAL's urban tolling project, has been a vocal supporter of urban tolling to fund the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project. Despite the financial burden already imposed on Gauteng residents due to significant electricity tariff hikes, load-shedding, the national fuel levy, and income tax hikes, the minister has unveiled plans to classify the non-payment of toll levies as an AARTO infringement.