David Maynier
Encyclopedia
David Maynier is a South Africa
n politician, currently the Shadow Minister of Defence
, and a Member of Parliament
for the opposition Democratic Alliance.
in Port Elizabeth, and holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree from the University of Cape Town
and a Master's Degree in Public Administration and Management from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. He is a former submarine officer and navy diver in the South African Navy
.
Maynier joined the Democratic Alliance as a researcher in 1999, and quickly rose to the position of Director of Research. In August 2000 he became Chief of Staff to party leader Tony Leon
- a position he served until June 2004, when he became Assistant to the Chairperson of the Federal Executive. In February 2005 he was again promoted to Director of Fundraising, and he was awarded the party's 'Top Fundraiser of the Year' award at the 2007 Federal Congress, after modernising and professionalising the party's fundraising system. In 2008, he was appointed the DA's Deputy CEO with special responsibility for the Western Cape
, the province where the DA has its strongest support base in South Africa. In 2009 he was the party's Campaign Manager in the Western Cape
for the 2009 general election
. The party won 51.3% of the vote in the province—up significantly from 27% in 2004. The result allowed Helen Zille
to become Premier of the Western Cape, and saw the DA take control of the provincial legislature in an alliance with the Independent Democrats.
:
On August 2, 2009, Maynier announced that a crisis in South Africa's National Conventional Arms Control Committee had resulted in weapons deals being conducted between South African firms and rogue states like North Korea
, Iran
and Libya
. This included the committee authorising the sale of radar detectors for use on North Korea
n submarines, and aviator G-suit
s to Iran.
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, currently the Shadow Minister of Defence
Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet (South Africa)
South Africa's Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet consists of Members of the National Assembly who scrutinise their corresponding office holders in the executive branch of government and develop alternative policies for their respective portfolios...
, and a Member of Parliament
Parliament of South Africa
The Parliament of South Africa is South Africa's legislature and under the country's current Constitution is composed of the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces....
for the opposition Democratic Alliance.
Background
Maynier matriculated from Grey High SchoolGrey High School
Grey High School is an elite school for boys located in the city of Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Grey High School is not to be confused with Grey College in Bloemfontein, Free State.-History:...
in Port Elizabeth, and holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree from the University of Cape Town
University of Cape Town
The University of Cape Town is a public research university located in Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. UCT was founded in 1829 as the South African College, and is the oldest university in South Africa and the second oldest extant university in Africa.-History:The roots of...
and a Master's Degree in Public Administration and Management from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. He is a former submarine officer and navy diver in the South African Navy
South African Navy
The South African Navy is the navy of the Republic of South Africa.-Formation:The South African Navy can trace its official origins back to the SA Naval Service, which was established on 1 April 1922....
.
Maynier joined the Democratic Alliance as a researcher in 1999, and quickly rose to the position of Director of Research. In August 2000 he became Chief of Staff to party leader Tony Leon
Tony Leon
Anthony James "Tony" Leon is a South African politician who served as leader of the opposition from 1999-2007 as leader of the Democratic Alliance. Although still a member of the DA, he currently serves as the South African Ambassador to Argentina under the ANC government.-Early life:Leon grew up...
- a position he served until June 2004, when he became Assistant to the Chairperson of the Federal Executive. In February 2005 he was again promoted to Director of Fundraising, and he was awarded the party's 'Top Fundraiser of the Year' award at the 2007 Federal Congress, after modernising and professionalising the party's fundraising system. In 2008, he was appointed the DA's Deputy CEO with special responsibility for the Western Cape
Western Cape
The Western Cape is a province in the south west of South Africa. The capital is Cape Town. Prior to 1994, the region that now forms the Western Cape was part of the much larger Cape Province...
, the province where the DA has its strongest support base in South Africa. In 2009 he was the party's Campaign Manager in the Western Cape
Western Cape
The Western Cape is a province in the south west of South Africa. The capital is Cape Town. Prior to 1994, the region that now forms the Western Cape was part of the much larger Cape Province...
for the 2009 general election
South African general election, 2009
South Africa held national and provincial elections to elect a new National Assembly as well as the provincial legislature in each province on 22 April 2009....
. The party won 51.3% of the vote in the province—up significantly from 27% in 2004. The result allowed Helen Zille
Helen 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...
to become Premier of the Western Cape, and saw the DA take control of the provincial legislature in an alliance with the Independent Democrats.
Member of Parliament
After managing the DA's successful Western Cape electoral campaign, Maynier became a Member of Parliament, after appearing eleventh on the party's Western Cape national list. Following the election he was appointed Shadow Minister of Defence. In his maiden speech to Parliament, Maynier issued a damning critique of the National Defence Force's state of combat readiness -- telling Defence Minister Lindiwe SisuluLindiwe Sisulu
Lindiwe Nonceba Sisulu is a South African politician, member of parliament since 1994, member of the National Executive Committee of the African National Congress and Minister of Housing from 2004 to 2009, and Minister of Defence and Military Veterans since 2009.-Early life:Sisulu was born to ANC...
:
On August 2, 2009, Maynier announced that a crisis in South Africa's National Conventional Arms Control Committee had resulted in weapons deals being conducted between South African firms and rogue states like North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
, Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
and Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
. This included the committee authorising the sale of radar detectors for use on North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
n submarines, and aviator G-suit
G-suit
A G-suit, or the more accurately named anti-G suit, is worn by aviators and astronauts who are subject to high levels of acceleration force . It is designed to prevent a black-out and G-LOC caused by the blood pooling in the lower part of the body when under acceleration, thus depriving the...
s to Iran.