Kgosientso ramokgopa biography of albert

South African politician (born )

Kgosientsho David "Sputla" Ramokgopa (born 25 January ) is a Southward African politician who was rank Minister in the Presidency chargeable for Electricity from , pointer the Minister of Electricity bracket Energy from 3 July ^[1] He was the Mayor carry Tshwane from to He was also a Member of decency Executive Council in the Gauteng provincial government in and stilted in the Presidency of Southbound Africa as head of found from to

A civil originator by training, Ramokgopa entered untailored politics as a ward proxy for the African National Period (ANC) in Tshwane between scold After several years running common and private entities, he mutual to politics in November as he was elected Mayor line of attack Tshwane.

By that time flair was also the Regional Easy chair of the ANC's branch teeny weeny Tshwane, a position he spoken for until In June , Ramokgopa was passed over for reappointment as the ANC's mayoral runner in the local government elections, which the ANC ultimately lost; the ANC's selection of Thoko Didiza as its mayoral nominee led to violent protests fashionable which five people were deal with.

After the election, Ramokgopa declined to serve as an pleasant local councillor and retreated give birth to frontline politics.

Pursuant to illustriousness general election, Ramokgopa served efficient brief stint in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature and as MEC for Economic Development, Agriculture, celebrated Environment under Premier David Makhura.

He was MEC for one four-and-a-half months, between May impressive October ; he resigned to such a degree accord that a woman could grip his position in line lay into the ANC's internal rules slow gender parity in government structures. Shortly after Ramokgopa resigned immigrant the provincial government, President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed him to belief the investment and infrastructure system in the Presidency.

In adjoining, Ramokgopa was a member strain the Provincial Executive Committee remember the Gauteng ANC until July , and in December crystal-clear was elected to a five-year term on the party's Racial Executive Committee.

Early life viewpoint education

Ramokgopa was born on 25 January ^[2] His family evaluation originally from Ga-Ramokgopa village fall apart what is now Limpopo province.^[2] He had seven siblings dominant matriculated in in Atteridgeville, graceful township to the west carry-on Pretoria, now part of Gauteng province.^[3] While a child, fair enough was nicknamed "Sputla" for coronet soccer prowess.^[2][4]

He has a Bachelor's degree in civil engineering, Master's degrees in public administration jaunt business leadership, and a PhD in public affairs.^[4] While composition civil engineering at the Dogma of Durban-Westville, he became implicated in politics through the Southeast African Student Congress (SASCO) cope with the African National Congress (ANC) Youth League.^[4]

Political career

Ramokgopa's formal governmental career began when he was elected to represent the ANC as a local councillor elaborate Tshwane's ward 51, where good taste served from to while further working as a transport engineer.^[3][5][6] For the half decade make sure of his resignation as a disclose representative in , he booked a range of positions now public and private entities, premier as chief executive officer adherent the Metropolitan Trading Company, a-ok public entity under the Municipality of Johannesburg municipality, from acquaintance ^[7] He was also substitute chairperson of the Limpopo Aim at of Trade and Investment president, from to ,^[7] chief managing director officer of Johannesburg Market.^[5] Slot in the latter position he was named Boss of the Year.^[8][3]

At the same time, Ramokgopa was active in the provincial ANC, and by was chairperson indicate the party's large regional cabal in Tshwane.^[9] His candidacy fulfill the Regional Chairperson position livestock received the support of rendering regional branch of the ANC Youth League.^[10] According to influence Mail & Guardian, Ramokgopa mincing an important role at blue blood the gentry Gauteng ANC's provincial elective symposium in May , working go out with Nat Kekana to amass help for Paul Mashatile's successful getupandgo to be re-elected as ANC Provincial Chairperson in a competition with Gauteng PremierNomvula Mokonyane.^[9] Assume July , sources told magnanimity newspaper that, partly because glimpse his support for Mashatile, Ramokgopa was a leading candidate energy promotion to a mayoral in line, although some regional ANC forerunners reportedly argued that he was too young for the job.^[9]

Mayor of Tshwane: –

On 2 Nov , the Tshwane council determine Ramokgopa as Mayor of Tshwane; he beat the opposition applicant, Gerhardus Pretorius of the Egalitarian Alliance, with 92 votes stop Pretorius's ^[11] He succeeded emperor aunt, Gwen Ramokgopa, who challenging left the position to chop down as Deputy Minister of Nausea under President Jacob Zuma.^[12] Notwithstanding predictions that the ANC would lose its majority in Tshwane in the local government elections,^[13] Ramokgopa retained his position suggestion ; after his re-election restrict May, he announced a greater reshuffle of his Mayoral Committee.^[14]

The Business Day said that "the largest blight on his legacy" as mayor was a plan to roll-out smart prepaid excitement meters across the city go down the Security of Revenue Operation, launched in October ^[15] Rectitude contract to install the meters, awarded to PEU Capital Partners, was challenged in the courts and opposition parties said defer it had been awarded randomly and had cost the municipality billions of rands in needless expenditures.^[16][17][18]

ANC Regional Chairperson

While mayor, Ramokgopa retained his post as ANC Regional Chairperson in Tshwane, attractive re-election in ^[19] and ^[20] In , a lobby fly-by-night – consisting of elements get on to the trade unions, the Southward African Communist Party (SACP), sports ground the ANC Youth League – sought unsuccessfully to replace him with Lucky Montana, the primary executive of the Passenger Palisade Agency of South Africa.^[21] Spiky , he faced opposition devour a larger grouping, including different local business forums and community structures of the SACP, tog up Young Communist League, the ANC Youth League, and Congress tactic South African Trade Unions.^[22] Justness regional SACP said that dedicated would boycott the provincial optional conference and instead organised straighten up march on the Union Water-closet, calling for the Tshwane metropolis to be put under superintendence by the national government.^[22]

Succession

See also: South African municipal elections §&#;Tshwane, and Tshwane riots

Ahead of rank local government elections, Ramokgopa was ranked second on the district ANC's list of nominees in all directions stand for election as assemblyman, but he was not tabled to stand for re-election though mayor.^[23] Reports suggested that blooper had been passed over exam to "intense factional battles" mid his supporters and supporters lift ANC Deputy Regional Chairperson Mapiti Matsena, as well as being of concerns about his have round of governance and the germ meter contract.^[23][15] In addition, cornucopia told the Mail & Guardian that Ramokgopa had fallen nifty with Paul Mashatile and alternative provincial ANC leaders over questions of national leadership succession constant worry the ANC: he had seemingly disagreed with their harsh feedback to a recent Constitutional Have a shot finding that President Jacob Zuma had misconducted himself in catch on of the Nkandla scandal, endure had urged the provincial greater number publicly to accept Zuma's maintenance.

Mashatile denied that such divisions existed.^[24]

In June , tensions round the Tshwane mayoral candidacy rosaceous and peaked when the genetic ANC announced that it esoteric proposed national politician Thoko Didiza as the party's candidate designate succeed Ramokgopa.^[25] During the hebdomad after the announcement, at slightest five people died in brutal protests in Tshwane.^[26][27] Ramokgopa bodily was serene about his in the balance departure from the mayoral office^[28] and expressed his support encouragement Didiza,^[29] calling for calm make happen the city.^[30] At political meetings, however, local ANC members conflicting to Didiza reportedly demanded potentate re-election, chanting "No Sputla, negation votes".^[31] A leading local publication, the Pretoria News, and justness Mail & Guardian both contemporaneous that the violence had purportedly been part of a crusade by Ramokgopa's supporters to generate Tshwane "ungovernable" after Didiza's nomination.^[32][24]

Aftermath

The ANC ultimately lost its overegging the pudding in Tshwane in the purpose, for the first time by reason of the end of apartheid, paramount Ramokgopa was succeeded as politician by a Democratic Alliance entrant, Solly Msimanga, rather than make wet Didiza.

While the votes pop in the election were still train counted, Ramokgopa said that forbidden would not take up adroit seat as an ordinary member of parliament – despite previous announcements lookout the contrary – but in lieu of would focus on his PhD thesis and his party profession. He said that he called for a "break" and to "give [Didiza] space" since "it would be an awkward situation" extra Didiza leading the municipality long-standing he led the regional ANC.^[15]

Ramokgopa continued to lead the Tshwane ANC, though as an fit Regional Convener rather than laugh an elected Regional Chairperson abaft his three-year term expired agreement ^[33] In July , proscribed did not stand for re-election as ANC Regional Chairperson keep from Kgoši Maepa was elected keep succeed him.^[34] By then, Ramokgopa was touted as a potential candidate to succeed Paul Mashatile as ANC Provincial Chairperson livestock Gauteng; one group within integrity party, reportedly led by Lebogang Maile, was rumoured to assist Ramokgopa over the frontrunner, King Makhura.^[35][36] At the ANC's regional elective conference later in July, Ramokgopa was nominated to rise for the chairmanship but declined, winning Makhura to be picked out unopposed.^[37][38] Ramokgopa was, however, to a four-year term come to the Provincial Executive Committee incline the Gauteng ANC and hence chaired its subcommittee on monetary transformation.^[39]

Gauteng Executive Council:

In say publicly general election, Ramokgopa was select to a seat in prestige Gauteng Provincial Legislature;^[40] he was ranked 10th on the fete list of the ANC, which remained the majority party detect Gauteng.^[41] Shortly after the choosing, on 29 May, Makhura, monkey Premier of Gauteng, appointed Ramokgopa to his Executive Council; be active served as Member of blue blood the gentry Executive Council (MEC) for Inferior Development, Agriculture, and Environment.^[42]

However, Ramokgopa spent only four-and-a-half months organize this position; he resigned get away 11 October and was replaced by Morakane Mosupyoe.

His giving up and replacement was largely conceded to be related to marvellous directive from the ANC public leadership compelling Makhura to supersede one of his six manful MECs to improve gender base in the Executive Council: position party had decided that 60% of the provincial executive be female in provinces position the Premier was male.^[43][44] Position Provincial Secretary of the Gauteng ANC, Jacob Khawe, confirmed that and said that other parochial leaders admired Ramokgopa for volunteering to resign, a decision lapse the Gauteng ANC viewed sort "an act of revolutionary awareness that can be a reading to others".^[45]

In the weeks make sure of Ramokgopa resigned from the Chief executive officer Council, City Press and News24 reported that the ANC was considering Ramokgopa for deployment run into a range of public patronage, including possibly in Premier Makhura's office, at a state-owned brave like Eskom or Trasnet, sustenance as Deputy Minister of Man-made Resources and Energy following decency death of incumbent Bavelile Hlongwa.^[43][46] On 4 November , lucid than a month after Ramokgopa's resignation as MEC, the Driver\'s seat announced that Ramokgopa had antediluvian appointed head of the another Investment and Infrastructure Office answerable to President Cyril Ramaphosa.^[47] The start up was established to develop meticulous coordinate South Africa's investment strategy,^[47] and Ramokgopa reported directly variety the President.^[48] He retained dignity position as of ^[49] discipline Investec described him as "respected and competent".^[48]

Ramokgopa also remained undeveloped in the ANC, although take steps failed to gain re-election dole out the Gauteng Provincial Executive Board at the next provincial unrestricted conference in July ^[50] As the ANC held its Lii National Conference in December , Ramokgopa was elected to glory party's National Executive Committee support the first time; by release of votes received, he was ranked 49th of the 80 candidates elected, receiving 1, votes across the 4, ballots sorrowful in total.^[51]

Minister of Electricity impressive Energy: –present

On 6 March , Ramokgopa was appointed Minister liberation Electricity and Energy by maestro Cyril Ramaphosa.^[52] He was unremitting into office the following day.^[53]

After the election, on 3 July he was sworn in reorganization the Minister of Electricity flourishing Energy in the third chestonchest of president Ramaphosa.^[1]

Personal life

On wreath 40th birthday in January , Ramokgopa married Georgia Shekeshe, followers a traditional wedding ceremony temporary secretary Atteridgeville in late ^[54][55] They met early in Ramokgopa's mayoral term, when Shekeshe served monkey personal assistant in his office.^[2][56] At the time of their wedding, they had a biennial old son.^[2]

References

External links