# Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri

_South African politician (1937-2009)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/ivy-matsepe-casaburri
Last updated: 2026-11-10

> Ivy Florence Matsepe-Casaburri was a South African politician. She was the 2nd premier of the Free State and South Africa's Minister of Communications from 1999 until her death. She served briefly as South Africa's acting president in 2005, when both President Thabo Mbeki and the deputy president were outside the country. Furthermore, she was chosen by the cabinet to be the constitutional and official head of state in an interim capacity for 14 hours on 25 September 2008, between the resignation of Thabo Mbeki and the taking of office by Kgalema Motlanthe. She was the first woman to have held the post of president in South Africa and the first woman to be head of state of South Africa since Elizabeth II's reign as Queen of South Africa ended in 1961. She remained the only woman with this distinction until July 2021, when Angie Motshekga was appointed acting president.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 18 September 1937 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q467838#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Kroonstad ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q467838#P19))
- **Died:** 6 April 2009 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q467838#P570))
- **Place of death:** Pretoria ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q467838#P20))
- **Citizenship:** South Africa ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q467838#P27))
- **Occupation:** politician; minister ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q467838#P106))
- **Political party:** African National Congress ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q467838#P102))
- **Education:** Rutgers University; University of Fort Hare ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q467838#P69))
- **Positions held:** President of South Africa (25 September 2008 – 25 September 2008); President of South Africa (14 September 2005 – 18 September 2005); Premier of the Free State (18 December 1996 – 15 June 1999); member of the National Assembly of South Africa ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q467838#P39))

## Questions

**When was Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri born?**  
Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri was born on 18 September 1937 in Kroonstad.

**What positions has Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri held?**  
Positions held by Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri include: President of South Africa (2008–2008); President of South Africa (2005–2005); Premier of the Free State (1996–1999); member of the National Assembly of South Africa.

**Where did Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri study?**  
Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri was educated at Rutgers University, University of Fort Hare.

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## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivy_Matsepe-Casaburri) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q467838](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q467838) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0).

## Cite this page

"Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri". DigiNepal. Last updated 10 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/ivy-matsepe-casaburri. Retrieved 10 November 2026.