Loretta Jacobus

Loretta Jacobus (born 6 April 1962), formerly known as Loretta Bastardo-Ibanez, is a South African politician who served as Deputy Minister of Correctional Services from February 2006 to May 2009. She represented the African National Congress (ANC) in the National Assembly from 2004 to 2013.

Before joining the National Assembly, Jacobus served in the National Council of Provinces from 1999 to 2004 and in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature from 1994 to 1999. She was active in the anti-apartheid struggle and represented the South African Communist Party (SACP) during the multi-party constitutional negotiations of 1993.

Early life and career Jacobus was born on 6 April 1962 She studied social work at the University of the Western Cape and in the 1980s was a teacher and social worker in the Transvaal, where she was also active in anti-apartheid organising through affiliates of the United Democratic Front, notably the South African Youth Congress and the Federation of Transvaal Women. From 1993, she represented the SACP at the Multi-Party Negotiating Forum which drafted South Africa's transitional Constitution. She chaired the Portfolio Committee on Arts and Culture. She deputised Minister Ngconde Balfour.

On 23 September 2008, both Jacobus and Balfour were among the several ministers and deputy ministers who resigned from office after the ANC compelled Mbeki to resign from the presidency. However, soon afterwards, the party clarified that several of those who had resigned were still willing to serve under Mbeki's successor, and Jacobus was indeed reappointed to her position by President Kgalema Motlanthe when he took office later that week.

In the 2009 general election, she was re-elected to her legislative seat but Motlanthe's successor, President Jacob Zuma, appointed Hlengiwe Mkhize to replace her as Deputy Minister. She remained an ordinary Member of Parliament until 1 August 2013, when she resigned.

Personal life Jacobus was formerly married to Antonio Bastardo-Ibanez; they divorced in 1997.