Sithembiso Ngema
Councillor Sithembiso Ngema | |
|---|---|
| Leader of the Democratic Alliance in KwaZulu-Natal | |
| Assumed office 9 May 2026 | |
| Deputy | Martin Meyer |
| Preceded by | Francois Rodgers |
| Deputy Leader of the Democratic Alliance in KwaZulu-Natal | |
| In office 29 April 2023 – 9 May 2026 | |
| Leader | Francois Rodgers |
| Preceded by | Chris Pappas |
| Succeeded by | Martin Meyer |
| Member of the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature | |
| In office 28 September 2023 – 29 May 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Hlanganani Gumbi |
| Deputy Provincial Chairperson of the Democratic Alliance in KwaZulu-Natal | |
| In office 27 March 2021 – 29 April 2023 | |
| Personal details | |
| Party | Democratic Alliance |
Sithembiso Ngema is a South African politician and former reserve police officer who has been the Leader of the Democratic Alliance in KwaZulu-Natal since May 2026 and a councillor in the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality since 2024. He previously served as the deputy provincial leader from 2023 to 2026 and as a deputy provincial chairperson from 2021 until 2023. Ngema served in the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature from 2023 until 2024, having been an eThekwini councillor from 2011.
Early life and career
[edit]Ngema grew up in Glendale and Lamontville outside Durban. He worked in the security industry before becoming a reserve police officer at the Glendale Police Station.[1] He also established and managed a security company before becoming involved in politics.[1]
Political career
[edit]Ngema had a conversation with Democratic Alliance politician John Steenhuisen, who referred him to KwaDukuza Local Municipality Madhun Singh, which led Ngema to become involved in politics in 2006.[1] He became an ordinary party activist before gradually rising through the party's ranks.[1]
Ngema was elected a proportional representation (PR) councillor in the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality in 2011 and re-elected in 2016.[1][2] At the DA provincial elective conference held on 27 March 2021, he was elected as one of three deputy provincial chairpersons of the DA alongside Elma Rabe and Sehana Kajee.[3] Ngema was re-elected as a councillor in eThekwini in the 2021 municipal election.[4]
In April 2023, Ngema stood for deputy provincial leader of the party.[5] He was elected at the party's provincial conference, having defeated Mzamo Billy.[6]
On 28 September 2023, Ngema was sworn in as a Member of the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature; he filled the casual vacancy that arose when Hlanganani Gumbi resigned earlier that month.[7]
Ngema lost his seat in the provincial legislature due to the DA's electoral performance in the 2024 provincial election.[8] He subsequently returned to the eThekwini city council as a proportional representation councillor for the DA, having beat 19 candidates during the party's internal selection process.[9] He filled Mzamo Billy's seat, who resigned following his election to the National Council of Provinces.[10]
In April 2026, Ngema declared his candidacy to succeed Francois Rodgers as the provincial leader of the DA; Rodgers had announced his intention to stand down.[11] He defeated Mzamo Billy in a rematch.[12] As provincial leader, Ngema said that South African president Cyril Ramaphosa's impeachment matter in parliament would not affect the provincial coalition government in KwaZulu-Natal.[13] On 23 May 2026, he, Durban North DA Constituency head Tim Brauteseth and DA eThekwini mayoral candidate Haniff Hoosen welcomed new party members during an event in Newlands West.[14]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 5 Naudé, Lesley (27 May 2026). "Meet Sthembiso Ngema: From reserve police officer in Glendale to the DA's KZN leader". North Coast Courier. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
- ↑ "Councillors LGE2016". Electoral Commission of South Africa. 15 August 2016. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
- ↑ McCain, Nicole. "DA elects Francois Rodgers as KZN leader". News24. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
- ↑ "Local Government: Municipal Electoral Act: List of Elected Councillors 2021 | South African Government". www.gov.za. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
- ↑ Ndou, Clive (25 April 2023). "DA leaders in a battle for top positions in KZN". Witness. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
- ↑ Macupe, Bongekile. "DA KZN Congress: Clean sweep for Rodgers and Mcpherson who retain leadership positions". News24. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
- ↑ "DA welcomes Deputy Leader Sthembiso Ngema to KZN Legislature Caucus". Democratic Alliance - KwaZulu-Natal. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
- ↑ Mlondo, Ntuthuko (21 June 2024). "DA set to fill vacancies following redeployments". IOL. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
- ↑ Phungula, Willem (11 August 2024). "DA KZN deputy leader returns to eThekwini council". IOL. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
- ↑ "Minutes of eThekwini council meeting 29 August 2024" (PDF). eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
- ↑ Magubane, Thami (24 April 2024). "DA KZN elective congress 2026: Mzamo Billy, Sithembiso Ngema vie for top job". IOL. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
- ↑ Mabaso, Nhlanhla. "Sithembiso Ngema elected new DA KZN leader". EWN. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
- ↑ Phungula, Willem (11 May 2026). "New DA leader Sithembiso Ngema speaks on Ramaphosa's impeachment implications for KwaZulu-Natal". The Post. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
- ↑ Hans, Bongani (24 May 2026). "DA's Sithembiso Ngema welcomes new members, calls for political transformation in eThekwini". IOL. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
External links
[edit]- Sithembiso Ngema at People's Assembly