Mike Ellis (South African politician)
Encyclopedia
Michael James "Mike" Ellis (born 29 September 1946) is a South Africa
n politician and former educator, who has served as Deputy Chief Whip of the opposition Democratic Alliance since 1999, and as the party's provincial leader in KwaZulu-Natal
since 2006. Ellis is one of the party's longest serving Parliamentarians
, having first entered parliament as a candidate of the pro-Democracy Progressive Federal Party
in 1987. Prior to that he was President of the Natal Teachers' Society, and served as headmaster and deputy headmaster at several KwaZulu-Natal
schools.
, and attended Northlands Boys High School
and the University of Natal
. He graduated with a BA in History and Political Science, and also obtained a University Education Diploma. He later also obtained a B.Ed degree. Upon graduating, Ellis worked as a teacher at Beachwood High School
, which later became Northwood School
. In 1976 he took up a post as deputy headmaster at Penzance Primary School, and after spending two years as deputy headmaster at Kingsway High School
, returned to Penzance to become the school's headmaster. In 1984 he returned to another of his former schools, Beachwood, as head teacher. He was also appointed President of the Natal Teachers' Society.
constituency, under the banner of the Progressive Federal Party, and then won the seat again in 1989 under the party's new name, the Democratic Party
. Ellis was reelected to Parliament in 1994, in the country's first democratic election
. In 1995 he became a party whip in the National Assembly, and he was appointed Deputy Chief Whip in 1999 - a position he has now held for a decade.
During his tenure in Parliament, Ellis has served on numerous portfolio committees, including Health, Education and Environmental Affairs and Tourism.
His current constituency in the south of the province stretches from Scottsburgh to Port Edward
, and as far inland as Kokstad
, and includes large towns such as Port Shepstone as well as large rural and farming communities.
, is a well known South African singer-songwriter and guitarist. His debut solo album, Come Out Fighting, released in June 2010, has a strong political message. It was dubbed 'Protest Songs' by the local press. Songs such as 'A Luta Continua', 'Government Song', 'Rebels' and 'Rant' speak about being a white South African post-Apartheid.
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 and former educator, who has served as Deputy Chief Whip of the opposition Democratic Alliance since 1999, and as the party's provincial leader in KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal is a province of South Africa. Prior to 1994, the territory now known as KwaZulu-Natal was made up of the province of Natal and the homeland of KwaZulu....
since 2006. Ellis is one of the party's longest serving Parliamentarians
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....
, having first entered parliament as a candidate of the pro-Democracy Progressive Federal Party
Progressive Federal Party
The Progressive Federal Party was a South African political party formed in 1977. It advocated power-sharing in South Africa through a federal constitution, in place of apartheid...
in 1987. Prior to that he was President of the Natal Teachers' Society, and served as headmaster and deputy headmaster at several KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal is a province of South Africa. Prior to 1994, the territory now known as KwaZulu-Natal was made up of the province of Natal and the homeland of KwaZulu....
schools.
Background
Ellis was born in PietermaritzburgPietermaritzburg
Pietermaritzburg is the capital and second largest city in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It was founded in 1838, and is currently governed by the Msunduzi Local Municipality. Its "purist" Zulu name is umGungundlovu, and this is the name used for the district municipality...
, and attended Northlands Boys High School
Northwood School (Durban North, South Africa)
Northwood School is a public high school for boys situated in the coastal city of Durban, in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.- History :Along with their sister school, Northlands Girls’ High, Northwood celebrated 50 years of High School education in Durban North during 1999.Both schools trace their...
and the University of Natal
University of Natal
The University of Natal was a university in Natal, and later KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, that is now part of the University of KwaZulu-Natal. It was founded in 1910 as the Natal University College in Pietermaritzburg, and expanded to include a campus in Durban in 1931. In 1947, the university...
. He graduated with a BA in History and Political Science, and also obtained a University Education Diploma. He later also obtained a B.Ed degree. Upon graduating, Ellis worked as a teacher at Beachwood High School
Northwood School (Durban North, South Africa)
Northwood School is a public high school for boys situated in the coastal city of Durban, in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.- History :Along with their sister school, Northlands Girls’ High, Northwood celebrated 50 years of High School education in Durban North during 1999.Both schools trace their...
, which later became Northwood School
Northwood School (Durban North, South Africa)
Northwood School is a public high school for boys situated in the coastal city of Durban, in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.- History :Along with their sister school, Northlands Girls’ High, Northwood celebrated 50 years of High School education in Durban North during 1999.Both schools trace their...
. In 1976 he took up a post as deputy headmaster at Penzance Primary School, and after spending two years as deputy headmaster at Kingsway High School
Kingsway High School
Kingsway High School is an English-medium, co-educational high school situated 2 km north of the Amanzimtoti business centre and less than a kilometre from the shores of the Indian Ocean....
, returned to Penzance to become the school's headmaster. In 1984 he returned to another of his former schools, Beachwood, as head teacher. He was also appointed President of the Natal Teachers' Society.
Parliamentarian
In 1987 Ellis left teaching to enter a career in politics. He won a seat in the House of Assembly in the Durban NorthDurban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
constituency, under the banner of the Progressive Federal Party, and then won the seat again in 1989 under the party's new name, the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (South Africa)
The Democratic Party was the name of the South African political party now called the Democratic Alliance . Although the Democratic Party name dates from 1989, the party existed under other labels throughout the Apartheid years, when it was the Parliamentary opposition to the ruling National...
. Ellis was reelected to Parliament in 1994, in the country's first democratic election
South African general election, 1994
The South African general election of 1994 was an election held in South Africa to mark the end of apartheid, therefore also the first held with universal adult suffrage. The election was conducted under the direction of the Independent Electoral Commission .Millions queued in lines over a three...
. In 1995 he became a party whip in the National Assembly, and he was appointed Deputy Chief Whip in 1999 - a position he has now held for a decade.
During his tenure in Parliament, Ellis has served on numerous portfolio committees, including Health, Education and Environmental Affairs and Tourism.
His current constituency in the south of the province stretches from Scottsburgh to Port Edward
Port Edward, KwaZulu-Natal
Port Edward is a small resort town situated on the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, right on the Eastern Cape Province border.Port Edward is a tourist resort for seasonal visitors from more affluent regions of South Africa...
, and as far inland as Kokstad
Kokstad, KwaZulu-Natal
Kokstad is a town in the Sisonke District of KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. Kokstad is named after the Griqua chief Adam Kok III who settled here in 1863. Stad is the Dutch and Afrikaans word for city....
, and includes large towns such as Port Shepstone as well as large rural and farming communities.
Family
Mike's eldest son, John EllisJohn Ellis (South African musician)
John Ellis is a South African singer-songwriter and guitarist and previous lead singer of the band, Tree63. He was born and raised in Durban, South Africa. He began playing the guitar at ten years of age. He created Saint Legend in high school, which signed with David Gresham Records in 1993...
, is a well known South African singer-songwriter and guitarist. His debut solo album, Come Out Fighting, released in June 2010, has a strong political message. It was dubbed 'Protest Songs' by the local press. Songs such as 'A Luta Continua', 'Government Song', 'Rebels' and 'Rant' speak about being a white South African post-Apartheid.