Martin Stephens (born 23 September 1945) is a South African politician who served in the National Assembly from 2004 to 2009. He was the finance spokesperson for the United Democratic Movement (UDM) until September 2005, when he crossed the floor to the Democratic Alliance (DA). He formerly represented the United Party in the apartheid-era House of Assembly.
Martin Stephens | |
|---|---|
| Member of the National Assembly | |
| In office 23 April 2004 – May 2009 | |
| Member of the House of Assembly | |
| Assembly Member for Florida | |
| In office 1970–1974 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 23 September 1945 |
| Citizenship | South Africa |
| Political party | Democratic Alliance (since September 2005) |
| Other political affiliations | |
Early life and career
editStephens was born on 23 September 1945.[1] He joined the House of Assembly in 1970 when he was elected to represent the constituency of Florida outside Johannesburg. He was the youngest MP in the house at the time and held his seat until 1974.[2]
Post-apartheid career
editIn the 2004 general election, Stephens was elected to a seat in the National Assembly, ranked fourth on the UDM's national party list.[1] He served as the UDM's spokesman on finance.[3] However, during the floor-crossing period of September 2005, he left the UDM and defected to the DA.[2][4] He spent the rest of the legislative term under the DA's banner, serving as the party's spokesman on public enterprises.[5][6] He did not stand for re-election in 2009.[7]
References
edit- ^ a b "General Notice: Notice 717 of 2004 - Electoral Commission – List of Names of Representatives in the National Assembly and the Nine Provincial Legislatures in Respect of the Elections Held on 14 April 2004" (PDF). Government Gazette of South Africa. Vol. 466, no. 2677. Pretoria, South Africa: Government of South Africa. 20 April 2004. pp. 4–95. Archived (PDF) from the original on 31 August 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
- ^ a b "UDM MP defects to DA". IOL. 2 September 2005. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
- ^ "UDM: Mboweni has shown foresight". The Mail & Guardian. 13 August 2004. Archived from the original on 16 June 2023. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
- ^ "Court reverses IFP expulsion". The Mail & Guardian. 2 September 2005. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
- ^ "Minister should save Indian arms deal, says DA". The Mail & Guardian. 28 November 2005. Archived from the original on 16 June 2023. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
- ^ "DA moves to reshuffle shadow cabinet". The Mail & Guardian. 10 July 2006. Archived from the original on 19 May 2023. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
- ^ "2009 National and Provincial Election – Final Candidate Lists" (PDF). Electoral Commission of South Africa. 6 April 2009. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 June 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2023.