Winkie Direko

Isabella Winkie Direko ( born November 27, 1929 in Bloemfontein, † February 17, 2012 ibid ) was a South African politician. They belonged to the African National Congress ( ANC ) and was dated 15 June 1999 to April 26, 2004 Prime Minister of the Free State Province.

Winkie Direko made ​​1948 their teachers examination and was from 1949 a teacher's assistant, from 1955 teacher at various high schools. In 1975, she was Deputy Director and from 1985 to 1994 director of a high school. Direko had early links with the ANC and was a member of the Youth League and the Women's Organization. They played an important role in the political awareness of young activists in the township of Botshabelo to Bloemfontein, especially the so-called Twelve Disciples of Nelson Mandela, who were their students until the group in 1960 went into exile.

After the end of apartheid in 1996, she became one of the first senators and later a member of the National Council of Provinces ( NCOP ). She was Prime Minister of the Free State in 1999. She then moved in 2004 to the South African Parliament. There, she worked with mostly women and social issues.

Direko died on 17 February 2012 from the effects of a stroke.