Buyelwa Patience Sonjica (born 23 March 1950[1]) is a South African politician who served as Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs from May 2009 until November 2010.

She was active against the Apartheid regime in the UDF and SADTU when the African National Congress was illegal in South Africa.

Since the 1994 general election, Sonjica was a member of South Africa's Parliament.

She was Deputy minister in the Department for Arts and Culture.

[2] Who's who profile Buyela was born in Eastern Cape Mqanduli,Mbozisa village