Nomafrench Mbombo

Nomafrench Mbombo (born 6 September 1966) is a South African academic and politician who has been serving as the Western Cape Provincial Minister of Health since her appointment in 2015. She has also been serving as a Member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament since the provincial election of 2014. She had previously served as the Western Cape Provincial Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport from 2014 to 2015. Mbombo is the Federal Leader of the Democratic Alliance Women's Network.[1][2]

The Honourable Nomafrench Mbombo MPP
Mbombo in 2019
Western Cape Provincial Minister of Health
Incumbent
Assumed office 1 January 2015
Premier	Alan Winde Helen Zille
Preceded by	Theuns Botha
Federal Leader of the Democratic Alliance Women's Network
Incumbent
Assumed office 7 April 2018
Deputy	Safiyia Stanfley
Preceded by	Denise Robinson
Western Cape Provincial Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport
In office 26 May 2014 – 1 January 2015
Premier	Helen Zille
Preceded by	Ivan Meyer
Succeeded by	Theuns Botha
Member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament
Incumbent
Assumed office 21 May 2014
Personal details
Born	(1966-09-06) 6 September 1966 Mdantsane, East London, South Africa
Nationality	South African
Political party	Democratic Alliance (2013–present)
Children	2
Occupation	Politician

Early life and education

Mbombo was born on 6 September 1966. She spent her childhood in the Mdantsane township of East London in the now-dissolved Cape Province.[3]

She obtained her PhD in the fields of Gender and Human Rights from the University of the Western Cape. She achieved her Masters in Maternal and Child Health from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, and her Bachelors in Nursing Science from the University of Fort Hare. She was then employed in both the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provincial and local government health departments.[3]

Before being involved in politics, she worked as an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Community and Health Sciences Department of the University of the Western Cape.[3]

She has also served as a member of various organisations, such as the National Committee of Confidential Enquiries on Maternal Death, NEPAD, and the UN Office of Human Rights: Women & Gender Directorate.[3]

Political career

Mbombo, who previously was an African National Congress supporter, joined the DA in 2013, after attending a DA meeting of black professionals.[4]

Mbombo was elected to the Western Cape Provincial Parliament in 2014. She was sworn in as a Member on 21 May 2014. She represents the Philippi region of the City of Cape Town. Premier Helen Zille appointed Mbombo to the post of Western Cape Provincial Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport. She was sworn in as Provincial Minister on 26 May 2014.[5]

Mbombo unveiling a plaque in September 2014

In December 2014, Premier Zille announced that Theuns Botha and Mbombo would exchange ministerial positions. Mbombo would become Western Cape Provincial Minister of Health, while Botha would take her position. The changes came into effect on 1 January 2015.[6]

In 2018, incumbent Democratic Alliance Women's Network Federal Leader Denise Robinson announced that she would not seek re-election to another term. Mbombo subsequently declared her candidacy and was elected on 7 April 2018 at the party's Federal Congress.[7][8]

In May 2019, newly elected premier Alan Winde announced that he had retained Mbombo in her post as Provincial Minister of Health.[9]

In October 2019, she declared her candidacy for interim Federal Chairperson of the Democratic Alliance following Athol Trollip's resignation.[10] She lost to Ivan Meyer.[11]

Personal life

Mbombo was married and has two daughters. Her husband died in 2003.[4]

In March 2020, Mbombo came into contact with the French consul-general Laurent Amar who tested positive for COVID-19.[12] She consequently went into self-isolation and later tested negative.[13]

References

1. Nomafrench Mbombo. Democratic Alliance. Retrieved on 3 January 2019.
2. Professor Nomafrench Mbombo. Western Cape Government. Retrieved on 3 January 2019.
3. Premier Helen Zille Announces New Cabinet. Western Cape Government. Retrieved on 3 January 2019.
4. Huisman, Biénne (29 August 2019). "Mbombo: From domestic worker to MEC". spotlightnsp.co.za. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
5. Dr Nomafrench Mbombo. People's Assembly. Retrieved on 3 January 2019.
6. Zille cracks whip in Cabinet reshuffle. News24. Retrieved on 3 January 2019.
7. DA Federal Council meets ahead of party congress. EWN. Retrieved on 3 January 2019.
8. New DA Women's Network leader pays tribute to domestic abuse victims. Mail & Guardian. Retrieved on 3 January 2019.
9. Western Cape premier Alan Winde's cabinet a mix of old and new. Retrieved on 23 May 2019.
10. Ndamase, Mkhululi (4 November 2019). "Mdantsane's Mbombo in running as interim DA federal chair". HeraldLIVE. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
11. "John Steenhuisen wins DA interim leader position". The Citizen. 17 November 2019. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
12. Shange, Naledi (18 March 2020). "Western Cape health MEC self-isolating after French consul general tests positive". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
13. "Western Cape Health MEC Nomafrench Mbombo tests negative for Covid-19". IOL. 19 March 2020. Retrieved 20 March 2020.

Party political offices
Preceded by Denise Robinson	Federal Leader of the Democratic Alliance Women's Network 2018–present	Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by Theuns Botha	Western Cape Provincial Minister of Health 2015–present	Incumbent
Preceded by Ivan Meyer	Western Cape Provincial Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport 2014–2015	Succeeded by Theuns Botha