After serving a five-year term as South African Minister of Education, this African National Congress Party Politician held several other high-ranking governmental positions, including Minister of Home Affairs and Minister of Science and Technology.
Born Grace Naledi Mandisa Matthews, she grew up in Durban, Natal, South Africa, as the granddaughter of Politician and anti-apartheid Activist Z.K. Matthews.
In 1994, she began serving in the South African Parliament.
After marrying Sharif Joseph Pandor, she converted to the Islamic faith and gave birth to children named Aisha, Suraya, Usher, and Fazlur.
In 1999, then-South African President Thabo Mbeki made Pandor the leader of The National Council of Provinces.
