Theuns Botha

Theunis Louis "Theuns" Botha is a retired South African politician and party member of the Democratic Alliance.[1] Previously, he served as Western Provincial Minister of Cultural Affairs and as Western Cape Provincial Minister of Health. He also served as a Member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament from 2004 to 2015. He was Leader of the Opposition in the Provincial Parliament from 2004 to 2009 and Provincial Leader of the Democratic Alliance in the Western Cape from 2002 to 2012. He was also Deputy Provincial Leader of the party from 2012 to 2015.

The Honourable

Theuns Botha
Western Cape Provincial Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport
In office
1 January 2015 – 19 April 2015
PremierHelen Zille
Preceded byNomafrench Mbombo
Succeeded byAnroux Marais
Western Cape Provincial Minister of Health
In office
7 May 2009 – 1 January 2015
PremierHelen Zille
Preceded byMarius Fransman
Succeeded byNomafrench Mbombo
Member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament
In office
26 April 2004 – 19 April 2015
Personal details
NationalitySouth African
Political partyDemocratic Alliance
OccupationPolitician

Career

Prior to entering provincial politics, Botha was elected to the Riversdale Municipality in 1995. In 2000, he was elected Mayor of the Hessequa Local Municipality.

In 2001, Botha was elected Western Cape Provincial Chairperson of the Democratic Alliance.[2] He was designated to succeed Gerald Morkel as Provincial Leader of the Democratic Alliance, after Morkel had announced that he would resign the role. He was elected to a full term as Provincial Leader in March 2003, after he defeated Sydney Opperman, Tony da Silva and Pauline Cupido.[3] He was elected to the Western Cape Provincial Parliament in 2004 and took office as a Member on 26 April 2004. He was designated to the position of Leader of the Opposition in the Western Cape Provincial Parliament.[4] He was re-elected to a second term as Provincial Leader after he defeated Lennit Max. He won with about 69 percent of the vote.[5]

In 2009, the Democratic Alliance won a majority in the Provincial Parliament. Botha was appointed to the post of Western Cape Provincial Minister of Health. He was succeeded by Lynne Brown as Leader of the Opposition.[6][7] He was re-elected to another term as Provincial Leader in 2010 after he had defeated Dan Plato and Lennit Max.[8] He announced his intention to stand down as Provincial Leader of the party in 2012 and opted to run for the post of Deputy Provincial Leader. He was succeeded by Ivan Meyer as Provincial Leader, and Botha was elected Deputy Provincial Leader.[9]

During a parliamentary debate in May 2013, Botha was accused of using the racist Afrikaans slur "bobbejaan" (baboon) in reference to African National Congress member Zodwa Magwaza. Botha denied his words but, after review of the Hansard record by the Speaker, he was forced to apologise.[10]

In December 2014, Premier Helen Zille announced that Botha and Nomafrench Mbombo would exchange ministerial positions. Botha would become Western Cape Provincial Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport, while Mbombo would become Western Cape Provincial Minister of Health. The changes came into effect on 1 January 2015.[11][12]

Botha was unseated as Deputy Provincial Leader by Bonginkosi Madikizela in April 2015. Madikizela won by a narrow margin. Botha subsequently announced his resignation from the Western Cape Government and Provincial Parliament and was succeeded by Anroux Marais as provincial minister.[13][14]

Botha has since returned to the private sector.[15]

References
  1. Mr Theuns Botha. Retrieved on 27 January 2019.
  2. SA democracy needs DA - Leon. Retrieved on 27 January 2019.
  3. A dark day for Gerald Morkel, IOL, 5 December 2002. Retrieved on 27 January 2019.
  4. Zille's cabinet for the Western Cape. Retrieved on 27 January 2019.
  5. Botha re-elected as DA leader. Retrieved on 27 January 2019.
  6. Appointment of the Western Cape Provincial Cabinet. Retrieved on 27 January 2019.
  7. New Health MECs. Retrieved on 27 January 2019.
  8. DA divided as Botha keeps top spot. Retrieved on 27 January 2019.
  9. DA chafes about leader who won't go. Retrieved on 27 January 2019.
  10. Coetzee, Cobus (14 June 2013). "MEC forced to apologise for baboon slur". IOL. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  11. Makinana, Andisiwe. Zille cracks whip in Cabinet reshuffle, News24, 31 December 2014. Retrieved on 27 January 2019.
  12. No sinister reasons behind W Cape govt reshuffle - Botha. Retrieved on 28 July 2019.
  13. De Lille new DA provincial leader. Retrieved on 27 January 2019.
  14. Bernardo, Carla (20 April 2015). "DA's Botha retires from public office". IOL. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  15. Former minister heads up new health care cooperative, Fin24, 26 May 2017. Retrieved on 28 July 2019.
Political offices
Preceded by
Nomafrench Mbombo		 Western Cape Provincial Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport
2015		 Succeeded by
Anroux Marais
Preceded by
Marius Fransman		 Western Cape Provincial Minister of Health
2009–2015		 Succeeded by
Nomafrench Mbombo
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