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Curriculum Vitae: Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, the Hon Andries Nel, MP

Andries Nel was born in the vibrant city of New Orleans in Louisiana where his father was the South African consul at the time. His interest in politics, human rights and justice began whilst in high school in São Paulo, Brazil.

Back in South Africa, he studied law at the University of Pretoria and actively participated in the anti-apartheid movement by joining structures like the National Union of South Africa Students, the South African Student Press Union, Students for a Democratic Society, Students for Human Rights and the End Conscription Campaign.

As a lawyer he worked for Lawyers for Human Rights from 1990 to 1994 heading LHR’s Capital Punishment and Penal Reform Project.  

Deputy Minister Nel’s commitment to justice and human rights led him into politics, serving on the ANC’s Constitutional Assembly Committee and as a coordinator of the Legal and Monitoring Team and ANC National Elections Team. He became a Member of Parliament for the African National Congress in 1994.

Over the years, he has worn various hats – both in Parliament and as a member of the Executive.

He served on various Portfolio Committees and was the Whip of the Justice Portfolio Committee and a House Whip from 2000 to 2002. He was appointed as Deputy Chief Whip of the ANC from 2002, as Acting Chief Whip of the ANC from 2006 and as a Chairperson of the National Assembly between 2008 and 2009.

He also served in various ad hoc committees, as well as parliamentary committees such as the Rules, Joint Rules and Programme Committees, the Chief Whips' Forum and Parliamentary Oversight Authority.

He was appointed as Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development from 2009 to 2013 and as the Deputy Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs from 2013 to 2019.

Between 2019 and 2024, he returned to work at Luthuli House, the ANC’s headquarters, as a coordinator of the ANC’s National Executive Committee and its National Working Committee.

After the May 2024 general election, he was appointed for a second term as the Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development.

Updated: 19 Aug 2024