Shaun August

Shaun Nigel August is a South African politician and former prison warder who has been serving as a Member of the National Assembly of South Africa since May 2019. He is a member of Good and the party's inaugural national organiser. He began his political career as a member of the Independent Democrats (ID). He was appointed the party's deputy national organiser in 2006. He joined the Democratic Alliance (DA) when the ID merged with the party and served as the DA's chief whip in the City of Cape Town council from 2014 to 2018.

The Honourable

Shaun August

MP
National Organiser of Good
Assumed office
2 December 2018
LeaderPatricia de Lille
Preceded byPosition established
Member of the National Assembly of South Africa
Assumed office
22 May 2019
Personal details
Born
Shaun Nigel August

Lavender Hill, Cape Town, Cape Province, South Africa
NationalitySouth African
Political partyGood (2018–present)
Other political
affiliations		Democratic Alliance (2010–2018)
Independent Democrats (2004–2014)
OccupationMember of Parliament
ProfessionPolitician

Early life

August was born on 5 September 1972 in Lavender Hill on the Cape Flats, Cape Town.[1] He only fulfilled Grade 10 while at school. He found employment as a prison warder at the Pollsmoor Prison.[1]

Political career

He first met Patricia de Lille when she was on an official parliamentary oversight visit to the prison. When De Lille formed the Independent Democrats in 2003, August joined the party the next year. He became her bodyguard and travelled with her during the 2004 general election campaign. He was elected the party's deputy national organiser in 2006.[1]

August became a member of the Cape Town City Council for the ID in May 2009. The ID and Democratic Alliance announced their merger in 2010. He was part of the main discussions.[1] He held dual party membership and in the 2011 municipal elections, he was re-elected to the city council, this time for the DA, as De Lille was elected the city's mayor. He was promoted to chief whip of the council following the resignation of Grant Pascoe in May 2014. He was re-elected in the 2016 municipal elections.[2] August was also the DA's metro chairperson from 2015 to 2017.[3]

After months of political infighting, De Lille announced her intention to resign as mayor in August 2018. August was seen as a potential mayoral candidate but ultimately did not run.[2] She delivered her final speech to council on 25 October. Following her address, August resigned from council and from the DA in solidarity with De Lille.[4][5] She later announced her intention to form a new political party and established the Good party in December 2019. August was named the inaugural national organiser of the party.[6]

Parliamentary career

In the 2019 general election, Good won two seats in the National Assembly. August alongside De Lille filled the seats on 22 May 2019. He was appointed the chief whip of the party.[7]

Committee membership

August was assigned to serve on the following committees:

  • Member of the Disciplinary Committee
  • Alternate Member of the Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises
  • Member of the Portfolio Committee on Social Development
  • Member of the Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
  • Member of the Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation
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References
  1. Petersen, Tammy (4 November 2018). "From De Lille's bodyguard to chief whip - Shaun August on why he gave it up". News24. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  2. Mtyala, Quinton (15 September 2017). "Shaun August's rise from prison warder to potential mayor". IOL. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  3. "DA elects Grant Twigg as party's Cape Town metro leader". News24. 16 September 2017. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  4. Sicetsha, Andile (25 October 2018). "DA Council meeting: Chief Whip Shaun August resigns in support of Patricia de Lille [video]". The South African. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  5. "DA Cape Town chief whip Shaun August resigns in council in support of De Lille". News24. 25 October 2018. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  6. Dlulane, Bonga (2 December 2018). "Patricia de Lille names her new party 'Good'". EWN. Johannesburg. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  7. Malefane, Moipone (10 May 2019). "Patricia De Lille good enough for parliament". SowetanLIVE. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
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