Litnet

Annelie Lotriet, born and raised in Johannesburg, studied at the then RAU and obtained a BA Languages (English and Latin), Postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education, BEd, MEd and DEd as well as an LLB from Unisa.

She entered politics full-time after a career in academia, having lectured at Vista University and the University of the Free State, where she became head of the Department of Afro-Asiatic Studies, Linguistics and Sign Language as well as an associate professor.

She was a DA ward councillor in Mangaung from 2000 and went into politics full-time when she was elected as a Member of Parliament in 2009. She served as the shadow minister of arts and culture, higher education and training and science and technology.

She served three terms as the DA’s provincial chairperson of the Free State, caucus whip for two terms, chairperson of the DA parliamentary caucus, and deputy chief whip until elected to serve as deputy speaker of the National Assembly following the 2024 general elections. Lotriet also served as deputy chairperson of the DA’s Federal Legal Commission.