Ms Lobe is Chief Director: Transformation and Transversal Programmes in the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO). In March 2019 she was appointed as the Acting Chief Operations Officer of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation and continues to operate in this capacity to date.
She holds a Master’s Degree in Politics majoring in Governance and Political Transformation from the University of the Free State. Ms Lobe also holds a Diploma in Public Relations and Communication. She was awarded an opportunity to study at the University of Manchester, UK (2001) under a Professional Development Programme called “Africa Future Leaders Programme” where among others she was introduced to the field of International Relations and Gender Studies.
Ms Lobe is also the Focal Person on Women, Peace and Security appointed in 2016 by the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, South Africa and serve in the Global Network on Women, Peace and Security. She is also serves on the Global Steering Committee on Generation Equality on behalf of South Africa. Generation Equality is global multigenerational initiative aimed dismantling gender inequalities and achieving a gender-equal world by 2030.
From a tender age she has always been committed and passionate about issues of equality, civil and human rights; this led her to pursue an activist role in various spheres of society and served her people in various capacities within the student movement, youth movement, women’s movement and various structures of the liberation movement.
In her leadership role within government, Ms Lobe served as a Councilor (1996-1999), served as a Member of Parliament (1999-2004) and finally as a Member of the Free State Provincial Legislature (2004-2008). Her work in the legislative sector is a reflection of her activism and work with communities and in particular with grassroots women.
