Thandeka Mbabama

Thandeka Mbabama
Shadow Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
In office
5 June 2019 – 14 June 2024
LeaderMmusi Maimane
John Steenhuisen
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byPosition vacant
Shadow Deputy Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform
In office
1 January 2017 – 5 June 2019
LeaderMmusi Maimane
Preceded byTsepo Mhlongo
Succeeded byPosition abolished
Member of the National Assembly of South Africa
In office
8 November 2016 – 28 May 2024
Personal details
Born (1956-09-12) 12 September 1956 (age 68)
NationalitySouth African
Political partyDemocratic Alliance
ProfessionPolitician

Thandeka Moloko Mbabama (born 12 September 1956) is a South African politician of the Democratic Alliance who served as a Member of the National Assembly of South Africa from November 2016 until May 2024. Within the DA's Shadow Cabinet, she was Shadow Deputy Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform from January 2017 until June 2019 and Shadow Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development between June 2019 and May 2024.

Career

Mbabama is a member of the Democratic Alliance. In 2016, she was elected to the National Assembly of South Africa to replace Nqaba Bhanga. She was sworn into office on 8 November 2016.[1] On 24 November 2016, DA parliamentary leader Mmusi Maimane appointed her to the post of Shadow Deputy Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform.[2] Mbabama became a member of the Portfolio Committee on Rural Development and Land Reform on 8 December 2016.[3] Her appointment as Shadow Deputy Minister took effect on 1 January 2017.[2] Mbabama was appointed to the Constitutional Review Committee in May 2018.[3] In February 2019, she became a member of the Ad Hoc Committee to Amend Section 25 of the Constitution.[3]

Mbabama returned to Parliament following the general election in May 2019.[4] In June 2019, she was appointed Shadow Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development.[5] In October 2019, she returned to the Ad Hoc committee to amend section 25 of the constitution as a non-voting member.[3] On 5 December 2020, Mbabama was re-appointed to her shadow cabinet role by the newly elected DA leader, John Steenhuisen.[6]

Mbabama did not return to Parliament following the 2024 general election.[7]

Views

Mbabama has been critical of expropriation without compensation.[8] In March 2018, she voted against the motion.[9] In May 2018, she blamed the ruling African National Congress for failed land reform programmes.[10] Mbabama said in December 2018 that the ANC was using the new Land Expropriation Bill as an "electioneering tool".[11]

References

  1. ^ "National Assembly members (On 16 March 2019) 22" (PDF). Parliamentary Monitoring Group. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  2. ^ a b "DA: Mmusi Maimane says DA announces changes to Shadow Cabinet and Parliamentary Caucus Leadership". Polity. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d "Ms Thandeka Moloko Mbabama". People's Assembly. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  4. ^ "SEE: These are the people who will represent you in Parliament, provincial legislatures". News24. 15 May 2019. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  5. ^ Maimane, Mmusi. "The DA's new Shadow Cabinet ready to make Parliament work for the people". Democratic Alliance. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  6. ^ Mazzone, Natasha (5 December 2020). "DA announces new Shadow Cabinet that will bring Real Hope and Real Change". Democratic Alliance. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  7. ^ "The 400 MPs elected to the National Assembly - IEC - DOCUMENTS | Politicsweb". www.politicsweb.co.za. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  8. ^ "ANC, EFF promise about land ownership 'blatant lies': DA". eNCA. 8 July 2018. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  9. ^ Moodley, Janine (11 March 2018). "'24 years of pain and suffering'". IOL. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  10. ^ Mbabama, Thandeka (4 May 2018). "The ANC-led government is the root cause of failed land reform". The Daily Maverick. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  11. ^ "ANC using land expropriation as an electioneering tool, says DA". IOL. 9 December 2018. Retrieved 26 October 2020.