Joe Mpisi (12 November 1966 – 12 May 2023) was a South African politician and trade unionist who represented the African National Congress (ANC) in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature from 2014 until his death. He also served as the Provincial Chairperson of the Gauteng branch of the South African Communist Party (SACP) from 2012.

Joe Mpisi
Member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature
In office
21 May 2014 – 12 May 2023
Provincial Chairperson of the South African Communist Party in Gauteng
In office
March 2012 – May 2023
Deputy
  • Rosemary Thobejane-Ndoqo
  • Mandla Radebe
ChairpersonJacob Mamabolo
Personal details
Born(1966-11-12)12 November 1966
Meadowlands, Transvaal
South Africa
Died12 May 2023(2023-05-12) (aged 56)
Political partyAfrican National Congress
Other political
affiliations
South African Communist Party

Early life and career

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Mpisi was born on 12 November 1966 in Meadowlands, Soweto in present-day Gauteng. He matriculated at Lamola Jubilee Senior Secondary School, where he became involved in anti-apartheid politics, including through the United Democratic Front. According to Mpisi, in 1980 he joined the ANC and its close ally the SACP.[1]

After the end of apartheid, he was active in the National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union, an affiliate of the Congress of South African Trade Unions, where he served as a shop steward and ultimately as Deputy President.[1] He also remained active in the SACP: in March 2012, at the Gauteng SACP's tenth provincial congress in Benoni, he was elected unopposed as SACP Provincial Chairperson; he served under Provincial Secretary Jacob Mamabolo, with Rosemary Thobejane-Ndoqo as his deputy.[2]

Legislative career

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Two years after his election to the SACP chair, Mpisi was elected to the Gauteng Provincial Legislature in the 2014 general election, ranked 37th on the ANC's provincial party list.[3] During the legislative term that followed, he was re-elected unopposed to his SACP office in May 2015[4] and May 2018.[5] In 2017, he called for South African President Jacob Zuma to resign over allegations that his administration had facilitated state capture by the Gupta family.[6]

Mpisi was re-elected to his legislative seat in the 2019 general election, ranked 31st on the ANC's party list.[3]

Personal life and death

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Mpisi was married and had four children; three sons and a daughter. He was a member of Change Bible Church in Katlehong.[1]

Mpisi died on 12 May 2023, at the age of 56.[7]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Strengthening governance for the allocation and utilization of budgets". Gauteng Legislature. 2019. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  2. ^ "SACP Gauteng's Congress declaration". Politicsweb. 27 March 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Joe Mpisi". People's Assembly. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  4. ^ "SACP Gauteng leadership elected unopposed". Politicsweb. 24 May 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  5. ^ Feketha, Siviwe (7 May 2018). "SACP's Nzimande bemoans schism". Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  6. ^ "'Chris Hani never had his Guptas' - SACP". Sunday Times. 30 April 2017. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  7. ^ "Anc Member Of Gauteng Legislature Joe Mpisi Passes Away". EWN. 12 May 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
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