Lindy Wilson

Lindy Wilson
MPL
Member of the Limpopo Provincial Legislature
Incumbent
Assumed office
4 August 2023
Preceded byDésirée van der Walt
Provincial Leader of the Democratic Alliance in Limpopo
Incumbent
Assumed office
27 May 2023
DeputyMarie Helm
Federal LeaderJohn Steenhuisen
Preceded byJacques Smalle
Shadow Deputy Minister of Health
In office
5 June 2019 – 31 July 2023
LeaderJohn Steenhuisen
Mmusi Maimane
Preceded byLungiswa James[1]
Shadow Deputy Minister of Social Development
In office
5 June 2014 – 5 June 2019
LeaderMmusi Maimane
Preceded byEmmah More
Succeeded byThandi Mpambo-Sibhukwana
Member of the National Assembly of South Africa
In office
21 May 2014 – 31 July 2023
Personal details
NationalitySouth African
Political partyDemocratic Alliance (2010–present)
SpouseBrian
Children5
ResidencePolokwane

Evelyn "Lindy" Wilson is a South African politician who has served as the provincial leader of the Democratic Alliance in Limpopo since 2023. A former councillor for ward 20 in the Polokwane Local Municipality, Wilson was elected to the National Assembly of South Africa in 2014. She was then appointed Shadow Deputy Minister of Social Development. After the 2019 election, she became the Shadow Deputy Minister of Health. Wilson was sworn in as a member of the Limpopo Provincial Legislature in August 2023.

Career

Wilson worked as an advertising manager at Northern Media Group before she started a catering and events management business and an advertising and marketing venture.[2] She also served as the chairperson of the South African National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (Sanca) in Limpopo.[3]

Political career

In 2010, Wilson became the operations manager for the Democratic Alliance in the Mopani District.[4] She stood as the DA candidate in a by-election in ward 20 in the Polokwane Local Municipality in February 2012 and won the seat off the African National Congress.[5] Later that same year, she was elected provincial chairperson of the DA.[4]

Parliamentary career

Wilson was selected to be the DA's provincial campaign manager for the 2014 general elections, which saw the party win over 95,000 votes in the province and three seats in the provincial legislature.[4] She was elected to a DA seat in the National Assembly in the election.[2] Having entered parliament, she was appointed to the Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Deputy Minister of Social Development.[6]

At the DA's provincial conference held in 2017, Wilson was elected one of two deputy provincial chairpersons of the party.[7] The following year, she was appointed head of the DA's Waterberg South constituency.[4]

Wilson was re-elected to the National Assembly in the 2019 general election. Thereafter, she was appointed Shadow Deputy Minister of Health.[8]

In April 2021, DA provincial leader Jacques Smalle was accused of turning a blind eye to allegations of Wilson abusing party funds. Wilson responded to the accusations by saying that it has been investigated and no charges were laid against her by the party.[9]

Wilson successfully contested the position of provincial leader at the DA's provincial conference held on 27 May 2023, defeating the four other candidates for the position.[10] She replaced Smalle, who, in turn, was elected provincial chairperson.[11][12]

On 4 August 2023, Wilson was sworn in as a member of the Limpopo Provincial Legislature.[13]

Personal life

Wilson is married to Brian. They have five children together.[4]

References

  1. ^ "Changes to DA Shadow Cabinet". Democratic Alliance. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  2. ^ a b Erasmus, Nielie (1 July 2014). "Lindy Wilson now member of parliament". Review. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  3. ^ Sekhwela, Koketso (2 June 2023). "Lindy Wilson elected as the provincial leader for the DA in Limpopo". Review. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d e "New constituency head for Waterberg South". Die Pos. 31 May 2018. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  5. ^ "Results of the municipal by-elections | South African Government". www.gov.za. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  6. ^ "The DA's shadow cabinet - Mmusi Maimane - POLITICS | Politicsweb". www.politicsweb.co.za. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  7. ^ raeesakimmie (21 October 2017). "BREAKING NEWS: Jacques Smalle re-elected as DA Provincial Leader". Review. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  8. ^ Gerber, Jan. "Here's the DA's 'shadow cabinet'". News24. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  9. ^ Sadike, Mashudu (6 April 2021). "More woes for embattled DA Limpopo leader Jacques Smalle". Independent Online. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  10. ^ Khumalo, Juniour. "Five candidates put their hands up for Limpopo DA leader position as party holds elective congress". News24. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  11. ^ "ANC should not be underestimated for 2024 elections: Steenhuisen". SABC News. 28 May 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  12. ^ "DA-party elects new provincial leaders". Die Pos. 6 June 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  13. ^ @dalimlegis (4 August 2023). "The swearing-in ceremony of the new member of the DA in the Provincial Legislature; Hon. Evelyn Rayne Wilson. Speaker of the Limpopo Legislature, Hon. Rosemary Molapo presided over the swearing in ceremony" (Tweet). Retrieved 29 August 2023 – via Twitter.