Melanie Verwoerd

Verwoerd currently resides in Cape Town, South Africa and works as a political analyst, advising companies (both domestically and internationally) on political developments in South Africa and Africa. In 2018, Verwoerd was ranked one of the top two political analysts in South Africa in the Financial Mail's analyst ratings. She does regular roadshows to asset management companies and other financial institutions. She has a weekly column on News24 and also conducts radio interviews for EWN, 702, and Cape Talk.

Her memoir When We Dance was published by Liberties Press in Ireland in October 2012. It was quickly removed from sale pending a court action regarding alleged defamation. The action was set aside and the book returned to the shelves with a clarification slip being inserted into each printed copy. The book was also published in South Africa in May 2013 under the title The Verwoerd who toyi-toyied.

In 2008, Verwoerd became the partner of Gerry Ryan, a well-known radio and TV personality in Ireland. Ryan died suddenly on 30 April 2010, with Verwoerd finding his body. In July 2011, the Board of UNICEF Ireland dismissed Verwoerd, citing the media attention and its handling following the death of Ryan as the reason, and offering a substantial ex-gratia payment. This resulted in a public outcry and Verwoerd initiated unfair dismissal proceedings. UNICEF Ireland settled the case out of court in April 2013 and issued a statement stating that "her departure was in no way a reflection of her performance, which was always of the highest standards."

In April 2007, Verwoerd was appointed executive director of UNICEF Ireland. She presided over an increase in income for the organization from €4.7 million in 2005 to €8.4 million in 2010, despite a crippling recession in Ireland from 2008 onwards. During her tenure she travelled extensively to UNICEF field offices, including Mozambique, Rwanda, Kenya, Swaziland, and Zimbabwe. She was involved in lobbying the Irish government to introduce new legislation to protect women from female genital mutilation and was involved in introducing a more child-friendly asylum process.

In 2005, she completed her term as Ambassador and decided to remain in Ireland. She presented a weekly radio programme, Spectrum, on RTÉ Radio 1, on the theme of multiculturalism, which addressed the challenges facing the new Ireland and examined the issues that arise in a multicultural society. She also represented the Mandela/Rhodes Foundation in Ireland and did consultancy work on development and multiculturalism. In 2007, Verwoerd was awarded the IrishTatler International Woman of the Year award.

In 2001, she was appointed as South African Ambassador to Ireland. During her period as ambassador, she focused on increasing tourism from Ireland to South Africa. She also spoke on the challenges facing South Africa and the developing world, particularly the challenge of HIV/Aids.

Verwoerd was elected as a Member of Parliament for the African National Congress (ANC) during the first democratic elections in South Africa in 1994, and re-elected in 1999. In 2001, she was appointed as the South African Ambassador to Ireland, a position she held until 2005. Between 2007 and 2011 she was the Executive Director of UNICEF Ireland. In 2007, Verwoerd was awarded with the Irish Tatler International Woman of the Year award.

During the first democratic election in South Africa in 1994, Verwoerd was elected as a member of the National Assembly of South Africa, standing for the ANC. She was re-elected in 1999. During her time in parliament, she was involved in the writing of the new Constitution of South Africa, and served on various parliamentary committees, including Local Government and Constitutional Affairs, the Youth Committee, Broadcasting and Communication, and Tourism and Environmental Affairs Portfolio. She took part in fact-finding missions, travelling to various locations including The Netherlands, UK, Sweden, Cuba, Chile, Australia, Brazil, Argentina, and the US. She was involved in the Women’s Caucus, served as a resource person on the Women’s Budget, and was a member of the Standing Committee investigating surrogacy.

Fourie married Wilhelm Verwoerd, the grandson of former South African prime minister Hendrik Verwoerd, in 1987, and they had two children, Wilmé (born 1990) and Wian (born 1992). Both studied at Trinity College, Dublin, and went on to pursue postgraduate studies at The University of Cape Town, South Africa. They divorced in 2005.

Melanie Verwoerd (born Fourie) pronounced [fɛrvurt] (18 April 1967, Pretoria) is a South African political analyst. She was previously a politician, ambassador, and the former director of UNICEF Ireland.