Manne Dipico
Encyclopedia
Manne Emsley Dipico, first Premier
of the Northern Cape Province, South Africa
, was born in Kimberley
on 21 April 1959. He was appointed Chairman of the Nuclear Energy Corporation of South Africa (Necsa) in 2006. He is Chairman of Ponahalo Holdings (De Beers Group) and Deputy Chairman of De Beers Consolidated Mines Ltd
.
. In 1996 he obtained a Leadership Diploma at Wharton, United States of America.
While at Fort Hare Dipico was an executive member of the Azanian Students Organisation (Azaso), joining underground structures of the African National Congress
(ANC) in the Eastern Cape in 1982. In the Northern Cape he was Regional Executive member of the United Democratic Front in 1985-6, and executive member of the Galeshewe Youth Organisation (Gayo) in 1982-4.
Dipico was detained in Ciskei
in 1984 during the State of Emergency
; and in Kimberley was detained in 1986 and again in 1987, charged with terrorism, subversion and promoting and furthering the aims of a banned organization. He was sentenced and imprisoned from 1987 to 1990.
Dipico was a member of the National Union of Mineworkers
, serving as Regional Organiser in 1985-7 and as Education Co-ordinator in 1990.
He became Regional Secretary of the African National Congress
in the Northern Cape in 1991, following the un-banning of the organization in South Africa, becoming its Provincial Chairman in 1992. He was on the Central Committee of the South African Communist Party
in 1995-8.
in 1994 to gain insight into the role of premiers there.
In 2001 ANC delegates unanimously voted in Manne Dipico as the ANC Provincial Chairperson for the fourth time in succession.
He was succeeded by Elizabeth Dipuo Peters
as Premier in 2004.
Premier (South Africa)
In South Africa, a Premier is the head of government of one of South Africa's nine provinces. The Premier of a province plays for that province a role similar to that played by the President for the country as a whole.-Election:...
of the Northern Cape Province, South Africa
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...
, was born in Kimberley
Kimberley, Northern Cape
Kimberley is a city in South Africa, and the capital of the Northern Cape. It is located near the confluence of the Vaal and Orange Rivers. The town has considerable historical significance due its diamond mining past and siege during the Second Boer War...
on 21 April 1959. He was appointed Chairman of the Nuclear Energy Corporation of South Africa (Necsa) in 2006. He is Chairman of Ponahalo Holdings (De Beers Group) and Deputy Chairman of De Beers Consolidated Mines Ltd
De Beers
De Beers is a family of companies that dominate the diamond, diamond mining, diamond trading and industrial diamond manufacturing sectors. De Beers is active in every category of industrial diamond mining: open-pit, underground, large-scale alluvial, coastal and deep sea...
.
Education and early political involvement
Dipico matriculated from St Boniface High School in Kimberley in 1979, going on to study for a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Fort HareUniversity of Fort Hare
The University of Fort Hare is a public university in Alice, Eastern Cape, South Africa. It was a key institution in higher education for black Africans from 1916 to 1959. It offered a Western-style, academically excellent education to students from across sub-Saharan Africa, creating a black...
. In 1996 he obtained a Leadership Diploma at Wharton, United States of America.
While at Fort Hare Dipico was an executive member of the Azanian Students Organisation (Azaso), joining underground structures of the African National Congress
African National Congress
The African National Congress is South Africa's governing Africanist political party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in April 1994. It defines itself as a...
(ANC) in the Eastern Cape in 1982. In the Northern Cape he was Regional Executive member of the United Democratic Front in 1985-6, and executive member of the Galeshewe Youth Organisation (Gayo) in 1982-4.
Dipico was detained in Ciskei
Ciskei
Ciskei was a Bantustan in the south east of South Africa. It covered an area of 2,970 square miles , almost entirely surrounded by what was then the Cape Province, and possessed a small coastline along the shore of the Indian Ocean....
in 1984 during the State of Emergency
State of emergency
A state of emergency is a governmental declaration that may suspend some normal functions of the executive, legislative and judicial powers, alert citizens to change their normal behaviours, or order government agencies to implement emergency preparedness plans. It can also be used as a rationale...
; and in Kimberley was detained in 1986 and again in 1987, charged with terrorism, subversion and promoting and furthering the aims of a banned organization. He was sentenced and imprisoned from 1987 to 1990.
Dipico was a member of the National Union of Mineworkers
National Union of Mineworkers (South Africa)
-External links:* official site....
, serving as Regional Organiser in 1985-7 and as Education Co-ordinator in 1990.
He became Regional Secretary of the African National Congress
African National Congress
The African National Congress is South Africa's governing Africanist political party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in April 1994. It defines itself as a...
in the Northern Cape in 1991, following the un-banning of the organization in South Africa, becoming its Provincial Chairman in 1992. He was on the Central Committee of the South African Communist Party
South African Communist Party
South African Communist Party is a political party in South Africa. It was founded in 1921 as the Communist Party of South Africa by the joining together of the International Socialist League and others under the leadership of Willam H...
in 1995-8.
Premiership
With the creation of the Northern Cape Province in 1994, Manne Dipico, as Chairman of the ANC, became its first Premier, serving in this capacity until 2004. He traveled to CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
in 1994 to gain insight into the role of premiers there.
In 2001 ANC delegates unanimously voted in Manne Dipico as the ANC Provincial Chairperson for the fourth time in succession.
He was succeeded by Elizabeth Dipuo Peters
Dipuo Peters
Elizabeth Dipuo Peters, born on 13 May 1960, is the Minister of Energy of the Republic of South Africa , in the Zuma administration, having served as successor to Manne Dipico as the second Premier of the Northern Cape Province, 22 April 2004 to 10 May 2009...
as Premier in 2004.
Other roles
Dipico has served with various organizations.- Board member Helen Joseph Development Centre, Galeshewe
- Patron, Griqualand West Rugby Football Union, 1996
- President, St Johns Ambulance, 1995
- Patron, Helen Bishop School for the Mentally Handicapped, 1994
- Member, Lions, 1994
- Honorary President, Kimberley Children's Choir