Mike Waters (politician)
Encyclopedia
Mike Waters is a South Africa
n politician, currently the Shadow Minister of Health, and a Member of Parliament
for the opposition Democratic Alliance.
. He joined the Democratic Party
in 1989, and became president of the DP National Youth in 1994.
town council, winning a landmark by-election against the National Party in 1997. He was elected to Parliament in 1999, and subsequently was appointed DA spokesperson on Child Abuse. In 2004 he became Social Development spokesperson. He succeeded Gareth Morgan as shadow health minister in 2006 - a position he continues to hold.
.
He was suspended from the National Assembly by Speaker Baleka Mbete
for five days after having submitted a written question to the minister concerning a rumour that Tshabalala-Msimang had been convicted of theft in Botswana
in 1976 while working at a hospital, and whether or not she had disclosed this information to president Thabo Mbeki
when she was first appointed to her portfolio. Mbete suspended him on the grounds that Waters' question contained "the use of offensive or unbecoming language", and that the question was supposed to have been submitted by a substantive motion of the house. Waters then challenged her over her ruling, at which point he was expelled. He was followed out by other DA members in protest.
, Waters visited all 45 child protection units in South Africa during 2002. The following year he visited all 48 sexual offences units. He was vocally critical of the ruling ANC
's decision to disband the amalgamated Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences units in 2006.
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 Health, 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.
Early life
Mike Waters attended Bedfordview High School before attaining a diploma in Human Resources from Technikon WitwatersrandTechnikon Witwatersrand
The Technikon Witwatersrand was a technikon located in Johannesburg, South Africa. On 1 January 2005, it merged with Rand Afrikaans University and some campuses of Vista University to form the University of Johannesburg, and is now one of many campuses of the new university.-Origins:Technikon...
. He joined 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...
in 1989, and became president of the DP National Youth in 1994.
Political career
Waters began his professional political career on the Kempton ParkKempton Park, Gauteng
Kempton Park is a city on the East Rand in the Gauteng province, South Africa. Formerly an independent municipality in the Transvaal, Kempton Park no longer has its own municipal government, and has been part of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality since 2000...
town council, winning a landmark by-election against the National Party in 1997. He was elected to Parliament in 1999, and subsequently was appointed DA spokesperson on Child Abuse. In 2004 he became Social Development spokesperson. He succeeded Gareth Morgan as shadow health minister in 2006 - a position he continues to hold.
AIDS policy
Waters has been a vocal critic of the ANC's health policies, particularly those of controversial former health minster Manto Tshabalala-MsimangManto Tshabalala-Msimang
Dr. Mantombazana 'Manto' Edmie Tshabalala-Msimang was a South African politician. She was Deputy Minister of Justice from 1996 to 1999 and controversially served as Minister of Health from 1999 to 2008 under President Thabo Mbeki...
.
He was suspended from the National Assembly by Speaker Baleka Mbete
Baleka Mbete
Baleka Mbete is the former Deputy President of South Africa. She was previously Speaker of the National Assembly of South Africa from 2004 to 2008....
for five days after having submitted a written question to the minister concerning a rumour that Tshabalala-Msimang had been convicted of theft in Botswana
Botswana
Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana , is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. The citizens are referred to as "Batswana" . Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966...
in 1976 while working at a hospital, and whether or not she had disclosed this information to president Thabo Mbeki
Thabo 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...
when she was first appointed to her portfolio. Mbete suspended him on the grounds that Waters' question contained "the use of offensive or unbecoming language", and that the question was supposed to have been submitted by a substantive motion of the house. Waters then challenged her over her ruling, at which point he was expelled. He was followed out by other DA members in protest.
Child abuse
As the DA's spokesperson on child abuseChild abuse
Child abuse is the physical, sexual, emotional mistreatment, or neglect of a child. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Children And Families define child maltreatment as any act or series of acts of commission or omission by a parent or...
, Waters visited all 45 child protection units in South Africa during 2002. The following year he visited all 48 sexual offences units. He was vocally critical of the ruling ANC
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...
's decision to disband the amalgamated Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences units in 2006.