{{Short description|South African politician (born 1953)}} {{Use South African English|date=May 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = The Honourable | name = Derek Hanekom | honorific_suffix = | image = Derek Hanekom-IMG 1037.jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = Hanekom in 2014 | office1 = Minister of Tourism | term_start1 = 27 February 2018 | term_end1 = 29 May 2019 | president1 = Cyril Ramaphosa | predecessor1 = Tokozile Xasa | successor1 = Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane | term_start2 = 25 May 2014 | term_end2 = 30 March 2017 | president2 = Jacob Zuma | predecessor2 = Marthinus van Schalkwyk | successor2 = Tokozile Xasa | office3 = Minister of Science and Technology | term_start3 = 4 October 2012 | term_end3 = 25 May 2014 | president3 = Jacob Zuma | predecessor3 = Naledi Pandor | successor3 = Naledi Pandor | office4 = Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs | term_start4 = 1996 | term_end4 = 1999 | president4 = Nelson Mandela | predecessor4 = Kraai van Niekerk | successor4 = Thoko Didiza | birth_name = Derek Andre Hanekom | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1953|1|13|df=y}} | birth_place = Cape Town, Cape Province Union of South Africa | party = African National Congress | spouse = Trish Hanekom | partner = <!--For those with a domestic partner and not married--> | relations = Braam Hanekom | children = | parents = | alma_mater = | occupation = Politician | profession = | website = | footnotes = }}
'''Derek Andre Hanekom''' (born 13 January 1953) is a South African retired politician, activist and former cabinet minister currently serving as the interim Chairman of South African Airways.<ref name = "SAA"/>
He is currently serving as a presidential envoy for South Africa mandated to promote investment with a focus on tourism. He was previously Minister of Tourism from 27 February 2018 until 29 May 2019. In his capacity as Minister of Tourism he was responsible for South African Tourism, the official national marketing agency of the South African government, with the goal of promoting Tourism in South Africa both locally and globally.<ref>{{ cite news|url=https://www.tourismupdate.co.za/article/180459/Cabinet-appoints-new-SA-Tourism-Board|title= Cabinet appoints new SA Tourism Board|access-date=10 December 2018|work=Daily Southern & East African Tourism Update}}</ref><ref>{{ cite news|url=https://www.tourismupdate.co.za/article/114341/New-CEO-of-SA-Tourism-appointed|title=New CEO of SA Tourism appointed|access-date=10 December 2018|work=Daily Southern & East African Tourism Update}}</ref>
He previously served as Minister of Science and Technology from October 2012 until 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.info.gov.za/leaders/depmin/scitech.htm |title=Deputy Minister of Science & Technology |author=South African Government |date=24 January 2011<!-- 14:50:27 --> |access-date=28 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809055010/http://www.info.gov.za/leaders/depmin/scitech.htm |archive-date=9 August 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He was Deputy Minister of Science and Technology having served under the then-Presidents Kgalema Motlanthe and Thabo Mbeki,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Online |first=Independent |title=News - South Africa: SA's new Cabinet |url=http://www.iol.co.za:80/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=iol122235793718M345 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202083459/http://www.iol.co.za:80/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=iol122235793718M345 |archive-date=2008-12-02 |access-date=2025-11-01 |website=www.iol.co.za}}</ref> and former President Jacob Zuma in May 2009.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Frontpage {{!}} South African Government |url=https://www.gov.za/ |access-date=2025-11-01 |website=www.gov.za}}</ref> He has a strong African National Congress (ANC) history having served three years in prison for the work he did for the ANC during apartheid, with his wife Trish Hanekom who served three years for her involvement.
He is also a former Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs, having served under the Mandela administration. Hanekom's tenure as Minister of Land Affairs was reflective of his career in the anti-apartheid NGO sector and he was selected by former President Nelson Mandela partly because of his ability as an Afrikaner to negotiate with white landowners. Hanekom's tenure as minister was marked by an affinity for redistribution as opposed to retribution, and rights as opposed to property. Some have cited a strong contrast with his successor in the ministry during the Mbeki administration, Thoko Didiza.
Hanekom was a member of the ANC National Executive Committee from 1994 to 2022 and the NEC deployed to the Western Cape - the only province the ANC does not govern.
==Personal life==
Hanekom was born in Cape Town, South Africa on 13 January 1953. He spent his school career in Cape Town, attending the German Primary School and then matriculating from prominent Afrikaans school, Jan van Riebeeck High School in 1970. Hanekom went on to complete his compulsory conscription in the South African Defence Force between 1971 and 1973. Thereafter, Hanekom travelled abroad where he worked for various organisations including working on farms, factories and building sites. He then returned to South Africa in his early twenties where he continued farming. Working the land, Hanekom was a dairy, poultry, and vegetable farmer from 1978 - 1983.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://whoswho.co.za/derek-hanekom-4283|title = Derek Hanekom {{!}} Who's Who SA|website = whoswho.co.za|access-date = 2016-03-02}}</ref>
Hanekom is married to academic Patricia (Trish) Hanekom.
== Struggle history ==
As a 23-year-old in 1976, Hanekom was arrested for participating in a peaceful candlelight demonstration at John Vorster Square, the Police Headquarters in Johannesburg. Four years later, in 1980, Hanekom and Patricia joined the ANC, conducting underground activities while continuing to farm on a smallholding in Magaliesburg. Patricia and Hanekom fed information to the parent body ANC, such as the apartheid Defence Force's attempts to overthrow the Mozambican government through the rebel movement, Renamo.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url = http://www.tourism.gov.za/AboutNDT/Ministry/Pages/Minister.aspx|title = Minister|website = tourism.gov.za|access-date = 2016-03-02}}</ref> Both were then arrested in 1983. They were initially charged with high treason, the worst offence against the State, but the charge was subsequently reduced due to the international sensitivity of the case.<ref name=":0" />
After spending three years in prison, Hanekom started work with the trade union movement in Johannesburg. Patricia was released a year later, in 1987, but was subsequently deported to Zimbabwe, where the couple went into exile for three years. During this period, Hanekom served as the co-ordinator of the Popular History Trust<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://whoswho.co.za/popular-history-trust-17457#.VtbfTZx96Uk|title = Popular History Trust {{!}} Who's Who SA|website = whoswho.co.za|access-date = 2016-03-02}}</ref> in the capital Harare.
After three years in exile and as the apartheid government unbanned previously banned political organisations,<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.sahistory.org.za/dated-event/fw-de-klerk-announces-release-nelson-mandela-and-unbans-political-organisations|title = F.W. de Klerk announces the release of Nelson Mandela and unbans political organisations|last = kedibone|website = sahistory.org.za|access-date = 2016-03-02}}</ref> Hanekom returned to South Africa in 1990 to work at the headquarters of the ANC, where he was responsible for policy formulation on land and agricultural matters, during the period of negotiations prior to the first democratic elections in 1994.
== Career in government ==
Under founding democratic President Nelson Mandela, Hanekom was appointed Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs from 1996 to 1999. In his capacity, Hanekom piloted various reform bills through Parliament which aimed to redress the injustices and inequities caused by apartheid laws and the 1913 Land Act.<ref name=":0" /> Much of the South African land reform legislation was initiated, drafted, and enacted during Hanekom's term. This legislation laid the foundation for land reform in the post-apartheid era.
From 1999 to 2004, Hanekom served as a Member of Parliament on various Parliamentary Committees. In April 2004, Hanekom was appointed Deputy Minister of Science and Technology, a position he served in until he was promoted in October 2012 to Minister of Science and Technology. As Minister, Hanekom served until 25 May 2014 before moving his portfolio to Tourism.
Hanekom was replaced as Minister of Tourism on 31 March 2017 but remained an ANC member of parliament after he filed a motion of no confidence against President Jacob Zuma.<ref name="ewn">{{Cite web |url=http://ewn.co.za/2017/03/31/derek-hanekom-sa-be-positive |title=Derek Hanekom: SA, be positive |last=Nicolaides |first=Gia |date=31 March 2017 |website=Eye Witness News |access-date=2017-04-18}}</ref> He was one of five ministers who lost their positions following their criticism of the president's controversial relationship with the Gupta family and accusations of corruption against President Zuma.<ref name="bizN">{{Cite news |url=http://www.biznews.com/leadership/2017/03/31/comment-zumas-night-of-long-knives-gordhan-out-gupta-associates-in/ |title=#Zumicon: Gordhan and others fired, Zuma cabinet full of Gupta "associates" - BizNews.com |last=Sam Mkokeli and Mike Cohen |date=2017-03-31 |work=BizNews.com |access-date=2017-04-18 |language=en-US}}</ref> President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed him to the ministerial post once again on 27 February 2018.
===Resignation from government=== Following the 2019 national elections, President Ramaphosa appointed Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane as the new Minister of Tourism. Hanekom resigned as an MP on 11 June 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Toit |first=Pieter du |title=Derek Hanekom also resigns from Parliament, looks set for new posting |url=https://www.news24.com/southafrica/news/just-in-derek-hanekom-also-resigns-from-parliament-looks-set-for-new-posting-20190611 |access-date=2025-11-01 |website=News24 |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Later career== Hanekom was a member of the ANC's National Executive Committee since 1994; National Working Committee; Chairperson of the National Disciplinary Committee and NEC Convener of the Western Cape.
He also serves as the Deputy Chairperson of the Board of the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.kathradafoundation.org/news-item/akf-welcomes-new-board-members|title = AKF welcomes new Board members {{!}} AHMED KATHRADA FOUNDATION|website = kathradafoundation.org|access-date = 2016-03-02|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160306183605/http://www.kathradafoundation.org/news-item/akf-welcomes-new-board-members|archive-date = 6 March 2016|url-status = dead}}</ref>
In August 2019 Hanekom took former President Jacob Zuma to court for defamation of character following Zuma's allegation on Twitter that Hanekom was a "known enemy agent".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/anc-should-deal-with-hanekom-spy-claims-not-courts-zuma-20190822|title=ANC should deal with Hanekom spy claims, not courts - Zuma|date=2019-08-22|website=News24|language=en|access-date=2019-08-23}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2019-08-21-jacob-zuma-and-derek-hanekom-to-fight-it-out-in-court-on-friday/|title=Jacob Zuma and Derek Hanekom to fight defamation claim in court|website=TimesLIVE|language=en-ZA|access-date=2019-08-23}}</ref> The court found Zuma's statement to be false and deflationary and ordered Zuma to issue a full and unconditional apology and retraction of his allegation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2019-09-06-zuma-loses-hanekom-spy-defamation-case-ordered-to-pay-damages/|title=Zuma loses Hanekom 'spy' defamation case, ordered to pay damages|website=TimesLIVE|language=en-ZA|access-date=2019-09-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/breaking-jacob-zuma-ordered-to-say-sorry-to-derek-hanekom-over-known-enemy-agent-tweet-20190906|title=Jacob Zuma ordered to say sorry to Derek Hanekom over 'known enemy agent' tweet|date=2019-09-06|website=News24|language=en|access-date=2019-09-06}}</ref>
===Retirement=== Ahead of the ANC's 55th National Conference in December 2022, Hanekom announced that he had declined the nomination for another term on the ANC NEC and would be retiring from politics at the conference. Hanekom said in an interview with ''Eyewitness News'' that he would continue being "critical voice" in the party.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Raubenheimer |first=Graeme |title=Outgoing ANC NEC member Derek Hanekom promises to be critical voice in party |url=https://ewn.co.za/2022/12/21/outgoing-anc-nec-member-derek-hanekom-promises-to-be-critical-voice-in-party |access-date=2023-01-11 |website=ewn.co.za |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-12-21 |title=ANC's NEC balance weighs in Ramaphosa's favour |url=https://mg.co.za/politics/2022-12-21-ancs-nec-balance-weighs-in-ramaphosas-favour/ |access-date=2023-01-11 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}</ref> In April 2023, Hanekom was appointed as non-executive Chairman of South African Airways.<ref name = "SAA">{{cite web|url=https://www.news24.com/fin24/economy/just-in-derek-hanekom-appointed-new-saa-interim-chair-20230417|title=Hanekom appointed new SAA interim chair|date=17 April 2023|website=news24}}</ref>
==References== <references/>
===Other sources===
{{Commons category|Derek Hanekom}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20071213120936/http://www.anc.org.za/people/hanekom.html Profile at anc.org.za] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20061006030233/http://www.info.gov.za/gol/new_profile.jsp?id=3634 Profile at info.gov.za] * {{People's Assembly (South Africa)|derek-andre-hanekom|Derek Hanekom}}
{{s-start}} {{s-off}} {{s-bef|before=Andre Fourie}} {{s-ttl|title=Minister of Land Affairs|years=1994–1996}} {{s-aft|after=himself|as=Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs}} {{s-bef|before=Kraai van Niekerk|as=Minister of Agriculture}} {{s-ttl|title=Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs|years=1996–1999|rows=2}} {{s-aft|after=Thoko Didiza|rows=2}} {{s-bef|before=himself|as=Minister of Land Affairs}} {{s-bef|before=Naledi Pandor}} {{s-ttl|title=Minister of Science and Technology|years=2012-2014}} {{s-aft|after=Naledi Pandor}} {{s-bef|before=Marthinus van Schalkwyk}} {{s-ttl|title=Minister of Tourism|years=2014-2017}} {{s-aft|after=Tokozile Xasa}} {{end}}
{{SAAgricultureMinisters}} {{Nelson Mandela cabinet 2}} {{Jacob Zuma cabinet 1}} {{Jacob Zuma cabinet 2}} {{Ramaphosa first cabinet}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hanekom, Derek}} Category:1953 births Category:Living people Category:Politicians from Cape Town Category:Afrikaner anti-apartheid activists Category:South African exiles Category:African National Congress politicians Category:Agriculture and land affairs ministers of South Africa Category:Members of the National Assembly of South Africa 2004–2009 Category:Members of the National Assembly of South Africa 2009–2014 Category:Members of the National Assembly of South Africa 2014–2019 Category:White South African anti-apartheid activists Category:South African anti-apartheid activists Category:Tourism ministers of South Africa Category:Commanders Crosses of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany Category:Alumni of Hoërskool Jan van Riebeeck Category:Members of the National Assembly of South Africa 2019–2024 Category:Members of the National Assembly of South Africa 1994–1999 Category:Members of the National Assembly of South Africa 1999–2004