Philly Mapulane

Philly Mapulane
MP
Deputy Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies
Incumbent
Assumed office
6 August 2021
PresidentCyril Ramaphosa
Preceded byPinky Kekana
Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, Science and Technology
In office
2 July 2019 – 5 August 2021
Preceded byCommittee established
Succeeded byNompendulo Mkhatshwa
Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Environmental Affairs
In office
12 May 2016 – 7 May 2019
Preceded byJackson Mthembu
Succeeded byCommittee abolished
Chairperson of the Ad Hoc Joint Committee on Appointment of Board Members to the National Youth Development Agency
In office
2 March 2016 – 7 May 2019
Preceded byCommittee established
Succeeded byCommittee abolished
Personal details
Born
Mohlopi Philemon Mapulane

1972 (age 51–52)
Political partyAfrican National Congress
OccupationDeputy Minister
ProfessionPolitician

Mohlopi Philemon Mapulane (born 1972) is a South African politician who is the current Deputy Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies and a member of the National Assembly of South Africa for the African National Congress. He previously served as Chairperson of the Ad Hoc Joint Committee on Appointment of Board Members to the National Youth Development Agency from 2016 to 2019, as Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Environmental Affairs from 2016 to 2019, as Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, Science and Technology from 2019 to 2021, and as Chairperson of the Powers and Privileges of Parliament Committee from 2020 to 2021.

Prior to his election to the National Assembly, he served as deputy speaker of the North West Provincial Legislature.

Career

Mapulane was the municipal manager of the Madibeng Local Municipality until he was suspended by the municipality in October 2009. In August 2010 he was arrested over allegations that he received kickbacks on government tenders.[1] All the fraud and corruption charges against him were provisionally withdrawn by the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Pretoria in 2012. Mapulane responded by saying that a political conspiracy against him failed.[2]

Political career

Mapulane served as the provincial treasurer of the African National Congress. On 17 July 2012 he was sworn in as a member of the North West Provincial Legislature as he was the next candidate on the ANC list.[3] He was elected deputy speaker of the provincial legislature on 14 August 2012.[4]

Mapulane stood for election to the National Assembly in the 2014 general elections as a parliamentary candidate on the ANC list in the North West.[5] He was elected to the National Assembly at the election.[6] Shortly afterwards he was named to the Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.

On 2 March 2016 Mapulane was elected to head the Ad Hoc Joint Committee on Appointment of Board Members to the National Youth Development Agency alongside NCOP Permanent delegate Mase Manopole.[7] He was elected chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Environmental Affairs on 12 May 2016.[8]

On 14 February 2018, Mapulane tweeted that president Jacob Zuma was "either deranged, psychotic, insane, of unsound mind or just foolish" for refusing to step down as president.[9]

Mapulane was re-elected to the National Assembly in the 2019 general election.[10] He was then elected chair of the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, Science and Technology.[11] On 25 February 2020, he was elected chairperson of the Powers and Privileges of Parliament Committee.[12]

On 7 April 2021, Mapulane became a member of the Committee for Section 194 Enquiry. The committee will determine Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane's fitness to hold office.[13]

National government

Mapulane was appointed as Deputy Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies on 5 August 2021.[14] He then stepped down as chairperson of the Higher Education, Science and Technology and Powers and Privileges of Parliament Committees.[15] He was sworn in the next day.[16]

References

  1. ^ Mahlangu, Dominic; Ncana, Mkululeko (19 August 2010). "Cops arrest 'Mr Cash'". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  2. ^ "Plot failed, says ANC man let off graft hook". IOL. 8 May 2012. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  3. ^ "Hon. Phillemon Mapulane sworn into Legislature". Government of South Africa. 17 July 2012. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  4. ^ "New Deputy Speaker for the Legislature". Government of South Africa. 14 August 2012. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  5. ^ Hogg, Alec (12 March 2014). "ANC 2014 candidates for Election (with full list)". BizNews. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  6. ^ "2014 elections: List of ANC MPs elected to the National Assembly". Politicsweb. 17 May 2014. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  7. ^ "Election of Chairpersons". Parliamentary Monitoring Group. 2 March 2016. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  8. ^ "Election of Chairperson". Parliamentary Monitoring Group. 12 May 2016. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  9. ^ Hunter, Qaanitah (14 February 2018). "Zuma is 'deranged' psychotic' insane' of unsound mind or just foolish': ANC MP". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  10. ^ "SEE: These are the people who will represent you in Parliament, provincial legislatures". News24. 15 May 2019. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  11. ^ "Oversight Committee Chairpersons Elected". Parliament of South Africa. 2 July 2019. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  12. ^ "Election of Chairperson; Matters referred to the Committee". Parliamentary Monitoring Group. 25 February 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  13. ^ Makinana, Andisiwe (7 April 2021). "Parties deploy heavyweights for Busisiwe Mkhwebane probe". SowetanLIVE. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  14. ^ Javier, Abigail (5 August 2021). "The ins and outs of Ramaphosa's Cabinet reshuffle". Eyewitness News. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  15. ^ Baloyi, Thabo (7 August 2021). "Cabinet reshuffle: Here's how it changes things in Parliament". The South African. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  16. ^ "New Ministers sworn-in". Government of South Africa. 6 August 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2021.