Mbhazima Shilowa
Encyclopedia
Mbhazima Samuel Shilowa (born 30 April 1958) is a South Africa
n politician. A former Premier of Gauteng
province while a member of the African National Congress
, Shilowa left the party to help form the opposition Congress of the People, with whom he is the Deputy President. In the 2009 general election, Shilowa was elected to parliament with COPE.
. The following year he moved to Johannesburg
to seek employment and started working at John Weinberg Hardware in Germiston. He then moved to Anglo Alpha Cement in Roodepoort and later joined PSG Services in Johannesburg
.
, Shilowa joined the trade union movement and became a shop steward fighting for better working conditions and defending the rights of his fellow workers. He was elected Vice-President and later President of the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union.
Shilowa played a prominent role in the formation of the Congress of South African Trade Unions
(COSATU) in 1985
and was elected Deputy Chairperson of COSATU’s Gauteng region. In 1991
, he was elected Deputy General Secretary of COSATU and in 1993
became the General Secretary. Shilowa then played a huge role in the forming of the National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC) which established close co-operation between government, organized labour and business. He was part of the African National Congress
' negotiating team at the Convention for a Democratic South Africa
(CODESA) negotiations in 1992
which led to the writing of South Africa’s democratic constitution.
In 1997
, Shilowa became a member of the African National Congress and on the 15 June 1999 he was elected Premier of Gauteng Province and had to give up his post as General Secretary of COSATU.
was forced out of office, Mbhazima handed in his resignation as premier. He was succeeded by Paul Mashatile
. Shilowa later resigned from the ANC and announced his support for Mosiuoa Lekota
's movement for a national congress.
, Shilowa was elected Deputy President of the Congress of the People by a landslide vote. His election as First Deputy President entails that he is Executive Deputy President, alongside former businesswomen Lynda Odendaal, who carries the title of Second Deputy President, which means that she is the more ceremonial deputy.
On April 22, 2009
, the day of the 2009 general elections, Shilowa duly voted for his new party, declaring to friends on his Facebook
page:
Earlier he had written:
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. A former Premier of Gauteng
Premier of Gauteng
The Premier of Gauteng is the head of government of the Gauteng province of South Africa.For a discussion of the election, role and powers of the Premier, see the article "Premier ".-List of Premiers of Gauteng:-See also:...
province while a member 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...
, Shilowa left the party to help form the opposition Congress of the People, with whom he is the Deputy President. In the 2009 general election, Shilowa was elected to parliament with COPE.
Early life
Shilowa was born at Olifantshoek in what is now called the Limpopo Province and completed his secondary education at Akani High School in 19781978 in South Africa
-January:* Former African National Congress member, Steve Mtshali who turned state witness in various trials is shot and wounded-February:* An unexploded bomb "capable of destroying a 22 storey building" is found in a Johannesburg office block and defused...
. The following year he moved to Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
to seek employment and started working at John Weinberg Hardware in Germiston. He then moved to Anglo Alpha Cement in Roodepoort and later joined PSG Services in Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
.
Trade Unions
In 19811981 in South Africa
-January:* 30 January - The South African Defence Force launch Operation Beanbag and raid a suspected Umkhonto we Sizwe safe area in the suburb of Matola, Maputo, Mozambique, killing 12 - 24 people -February:...
, Shilowa joined the trade union movement and became a shop steward fighting for better working conditions and defending the rights of his fellow workers. He was elected Vice-President and later President of the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union.
Shilowa played a prominent role in the formation of the Congress of South African Trade Unions
Congress of South African Trade Unions
The Congress of South African Trade Unions is a trade union federation in South Africa. It was founded in 1985 and is the biggest of the country’s three main trade union federations, with 21 affiliated trade unions, altogether organising 1.8 million workers.-Establishment:COSATU was established in...
(COSATU) in 1985
1985 in South Africa
-January:* Three guerrillas and a policeman are killed in a skirmish near Nongoma* 31 January - Pieter Willem Botha, State President of South Africa offers a release proposal to jailed African National Congress leader Nelson Mandela...
and was elected Deputy Chairperson of COSATU’s Gauteng region. In 1991
1991 in South Africa
-January:* 9 January - Black children are admitted to schools previously reserved for Whites only.* 12 January - 45 mourners are killed during an attack on a funeral vigil for an African National Congress member...
, he was elected Deputy General Secretary of COSATU and in 1993
1993 in South Africa
-March:* 24 March - The President FW de Klerk informs Parliament that South Africa constructed six nuclear fission devices. He adds that these had been dismantled by the end of 1989-April:...
became the General Secretary. Shilowa then played a huge role in the forming of the National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC) which established close co-operation between government, organized labour and business. He was part 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...
' negotiating team at the Convention for a Democratic South Africa
Convention for a Democratic South Africa
The apartheid system in South Africa was ended through a series of negotiations between 1990 and 1993 and through unilateral steps by the de Klerk government. These negotiations took place between the governing National Party, the African National Congress, and a wide variety of other political...
(CODESA) negotiations in 1992
1992 in South Africa
-February:* 3 February - President F.W. de Klerk and Nelson Mandela, the African National Congress leader are jointly awarded the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Peace Prize at the Unesco headquarters in Paris...
which led to the writing of South Africa’s democratic constitution.
In 1997
1997 in South Africa
-March:* 19 March - Denel and Aérospatiale sign a co-operation agreement* 28 March - Nelson Mandela, President of South Africa and H. D. Deve Gowda, Prime Minister of India sign the Red Fort Declaration on a Strategic Partnership while Mandela was on a state visit to India-April:* 23 April - Eugène...
, Shilowa became a member of the African National Congress and on the 15 June 1999 he was elected Premier of Gauteng Province and had to give up his post as General Secretary of COSATU.
Resignation
On 29 September 2008, soon after the South African President Thabo MbekiThabo Mbeki
Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki is a South African politician who served two terms as the second post-apartheid President of South Africa from 14 June 1999 to 24 September 2008. He is also the brother of Moeletsi Mbeki...
was forced out of office, Mbhazima handed in his resignation as premier. He was succeeded by Paul Mashatile
Paul Mashatile
Paul Mashatile is the current Minister of Arts and Culture in the Cabinet of South Africa.He is the former Premier of Gauteng province in South Africa and a member of the African National Congress...
. Shilowa later resigned from the ANC and announced his support for Mosiuoa Lekota
Mosiuoa Lekota
Mosiuoa Gerard Patrick Lekota is a South African politician who currently serves as the President and Leader of the Congress of the People since 16 December 2008. Previously, under President Thabo Mbeki, he served in the Cabinet of South Africa as Minister of Defence from 17 June 1999 to 25...
's movement for a national congress.
Deputy President of COPE
On the December 16, 20082008 in South Africa
-January:* 12 January – Jackie Selebi is suspended as South Africa's National Police Commissioner as the National Prosecuting Authority states that they will bring charges against him for corruption and defeating the ends of justice....
, Shilowa was elected Deputy President of the Congress of the People by a landslide vote. His election as First Deputy President entails that he is Executive Deputy President, alongside former businesswomen Lynda Odendaal, who carries the title of Second Deputy President, which means that she is the more ceremonial deputy.
On April 22, 2009
2009 in South Africa
-February:* 4 February – Jacob Zuma appeared in the Pietermaritzburg High Court.* 4 February – Jimmy Mohlala a Mbombela Local Council Municipality speaker was shot dead in his Nelspruit home...
, the day of the 2009 general elections, Shilowa duly voted for his new party, declaring to friends on his Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
page:
I voted for the future I desire and for a party that I believe will take forward my aspirations. I voted for change, a party of HOPE for today and tomorrow. I voted for the government of the people. I voted COPE [....]
Earlier he had written:
Today I cast my vote for a party born out of our new democracy and constitution - Cope. I stood on the quee [sic] for an hour to vote. I used the time to talk to ordinary men and women about everything from Cope, the weatherWeatherWeather is the state of the atmosphere, to the degree that it is hot or cold, wet or dry, calm or stormy, clear or cloudy. Most weather phenomena occur in the troposphere, just below the stratosphere. Weather refers, generally, to day-to-day temperature and precipitation activity, whereas climate...
, religionReligionReligion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
etc. Go out and vote for hope and change. Do not forget to get your family, friends and neighbours to go and vote for Cope.