Miriam Segabutla

Career in government In the 2009 general election, Segabutla was ranked 24th on the ANC's provincial party list and secured election to a seat in the Limpopo Provincial Legislature. After the election, on 6 May 2009, newly elected Premier Cassel Mathale announced that she would join the Limpopo Executive Council as MEC for Health and Social Development, replacing Seaparo Sekoati. She served in that office until 28 January 2011, when she was removed in a cabinet reshuffle and replaced by Dikeledi Magadzi.

Later in 2011, President Jacob Zuma appointed Segabutla as South Africa's Ambassador to Cuba. She resigned from the Limpopo Provincial Legislature and embarked upon a diplomatic training course in Pretoria. The following year, at the ANC's 53rd National Conference in Mangaung in December 2012, Segabutla was elected to a five-year term as a member of the ANC's National Executive Committee; by number of votes received, she ranked 73rd of the 80 ordinary members elected. She later worked as a chief director in the national Department of International Relations and Cooperation.

Fraud charges In June 2010, while still serving as MEC, Segabutla was the subject of a formal complaint lodged with the Public Protector relating to alleged procurement irregularities. The incumbent Public Protector, Thuli Madonsela, initiated an investigation, which continued after Segabutla was fired from the Executive Council.

On 26 March 2013, Segabutla was arrested by the Hawks and charged with fraud in the Polokwane Magistrate's Court. The contracts were worth a combined R16 million and had been awarded without a competitive tender process.

Personal life Segabutla was married to Phillip Segabutla, a public servant in the provincial government, with whom she has a daughter named Precious. She filed for divorce in 2010.