Athol Trollip
Encyclopedia
Athol Trollip is a South Africa
n politician, who has served as member of the National Assembly
for the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA). He served as Parliamentary leader of the opposition between 2009 and 2011, on behalf of the DA and its leader, Helen Zille. He is also the leader of the DA in the Eastern Cape
.
in the Eastern Cape
, and he attended Woodridge College
.
in 2007. In 2009 he became a Member of Parliament and won a leadership contest against Ryan Coetzee
for the position of leader of the opposition. On 27 October 2011, he was defeated in the election for Parliamentary Leader of the DA by fellow MP Lindiwe Mazibuko.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n politician, who has served as member of the National Assembly
National Assembly of South Africa
The National Assembly is the lower house of the Parliament of South Africa, located in Cape Town, Western Cape Province. It consists of no fewer than 350 and no more than 400 members...
for the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA). He served as Parliamentary leader of the opposition between 2009 and 2011, on behalf of the DA and its leader, Helen Zille. He is also the leader of the DA in the Eastern Cape
Eastern Cape
The Eastern Cape is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, but its two largest cities are Port Elizabeth and East London. It was formed in 1994 out of the "independent" Xhosa homelands of Transkei and Ciskei, together with the eastern portion of the Cape Province...
.
Background
Trollip was born in the town of BedfordBedford, Eastern Cape
Bedford is a town in the centre of the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It was established in the mid-19th century when Sir Andries Stockenstroom sold portions of land from his farm Maastroom to raise funds for the restoration of his library, which had been burnt by British soldiers...
in the Eastern Cape
Eastern Cape
The Eastern Cape is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, but its two largest cities are Port Elizabeth and East London. It was formed in 1994 out of the "independent" Xhosa homelands of Transkei and Ciskei, together with the eastern portion of the Cape Province...
, and he attended Woodridge College
Woodridge College
Woodridge College is a private, co-educational school in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.Woodridge is situated near the small town of Thornhill, roughly half way between Jeffrey's Bay and Port Elizabeth...
.
Career in politics
Trollip was the DA's leader in the Eastern Cape, and served as a Member of the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature up until 2009. He unsuccessfully ran for party leader against Helen ZilleHelen Zille
Helen Zille is the Premier of the Western Cape, a member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament, leader of South Africa's opposition Democratic Alliance political party, and a former Mayor of Cape Town.Zille is a former journalist and anti-apartheid activist, and famously exposed the truth...
in 2007. In 2009 he became a Member of Parliament and won a leadership contest against Ryan Coetzee
Ryan Coetzee
Ryan Coetzee is a prominent South African politician and political strategist, and past CEO of the country's official opposition, the Democratic Alliance. He was a Member of Parliament between 2004 and 2009, and headed up his party's general election campaigns in 2004 and 2009...
for the position of leader of the opposition. On 27 October 2011, he was defeated in the election for Parliamentary Leader of the DA by fellow MP Lindiwe Mazibuko.