Mmabatho Tembe is a South African politician who has served as the Deputy Speaker of the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Legislature since June 2024. A member of the Democratic Alliance, she has served in the provincial legislature since December 2021. Tembe had previously served as a councillor in the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality.
Mmabatho Tembe | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Tembe in 2024 | |
| Deputy Speaker of the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature | |
| Assumed office 14 June 2024 | |
| Premier | Thami Ntuli |
| Preceded by | Themba Mthembu |
| Member of the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Legislature | |
| Assumed office 7 December 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Chris Pappas |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Durban, South Africa |
| Political party | Democratic Alliance |
| Education | Queensburgh Girls' High School |
| Alma mater | University of KwaZulu-Natal |
| Profession | Politician |
Early life and education
editTembe was born and grew up in Durban. She matriculated from Queensburgh Girls' High School. Tembe graduated from the University of KwaZulu-Natal with a degree in Social Sciences majoring in Psychology and Anthropology before she graduated with an Honours degree in Counseling Psychology.[1] She has also earned a certificate in project management from the University of Cape Town.[1]
Career
editTembe worked as a research assistant to the Deputy Vice Chancellor of the Durban University of Technology. She then became an Academic Development Advisor at the Health Sciences Department of the university.[1]
Political career
editTembe joined the Democratic Alliance branch in Ward 33 in the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality in 2014. She was appointed secretary of the party's Central Durban constituency.[1]
Tembe was elected a DA councillor in the eThekwini municipality in 2016. During her tenure as a councillor, she served on the economic development committee, before moving to the community safety committee where she was whip for two terms.[1]
On 7 December 2021, Tembe was sworn in as a DA Member of the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Legislature. She filled the casual vacancy that arose after the resignation of Chris Pappas who was elected mayor of the uMngeni Local Municipality.[1]
During a special sitting of the legislature held on 10 August 2022 to elect a new Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, the DA caucus nominated Tembe to contest the election against the ANC's candidate Nomusa Dube-Ncube. Dube-Ncube defeated Tembe by a margin of 45 to 11 votes.[2][3]
Tembe was elected deputy speaker of the provincial legislature following the 2024 provincial election.[4]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f "DA welcomes eThekwini Cllr Mmabatho Tembe to KZN Legislature Caucus team". Democratic Alliance - KwaZulu-Natal. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
- ^ Stone, Setumo. "Dube-Ncube's election as KZN premier begins with a showdown". City Press. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
- ^ "Dube-Ncube makes history as KZN's first woman premier". Jacaranda FM. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
- ^ "DA's Tembe elected KZN Legislature Deputy Speaker". The Witness. 2024-06-14. Retrieved 2024-06-15.