Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu

Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu is an accomplished activist, motivational speaker, policy analyst and developer, and writer whose contributions have impacted women, the disability community, and those affected by HIV/AIDS in South Africa for decades. As a person with a visual impairment, as well as a mother of two daughters with visual impairments, Hendrietta was compelled early in her career to fight for the evolving needs of the South African disability community and establish defined pathways to vital programs and services that help people with disabilities live better lives.

Serving as a member of parliament since 1999, she is currently the South African Deputy Minister in the Department of Social Development, and previously held the positions of Deputy Minister of Public Works and Deputy Minister Women, Children, and Persons with Disability. She is one of only three Cabinet Members with disabilities in the South African Government.

Hendrietta has also worked as the first national coordinator for the Disabled Women’s Development Programme under Disabled People South Africa, which constitutes the national disability rights movement of South Africa, and has served on the South African National Aids Council for over 20 years, where her interventions have contributed towards more disability inclusive strategies and programs.