Ricardo Denver Mackenzie is a South African politician who has served as the Minister of Mobility of the Western Cape since February 2023. A member of the Democratic Alliance, he has been a Member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament since May 2014.

Ricardo Mackenzie
Minister of Mobility of the Western Cape
Assumed office
20 February 2023
PremierAlan Winde
Preceded byDaylin Mitchell
Member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament
Assumed office
21 May 2014
Personal details
Born
Ricardo Denver Mackenzie
NationalitySouth African
Political partyDemocratic Alliance (2014–present)
Other political
affiliations
African National Congress (Until 2014)
Alma materUniversity of the Witwatersrand
OccupationMember of the Provincial Parliament
ProfessionPolitician

Mackenzie is a former Manager/PA to African National Congress member and national cabinet minister Fikile Mbalula. He is also the DA's constituency head in Mitchells Plain.

Early life edit

Mackenzie studied at the University of the Witwatersrand where he obtained a graduate certificate in governance and leadership. As of 2019, he is studying for a post-graduate diploma in governance. He worked for the Presidency, Old Mutual, and JPMorgan Chase before being appointed Manager/PA to the then-Minister of Sport and Recreation Fikile Mbalula.[1]

Political career edit

In January 2014, Mackenzie announced that he had resigned as Mbalula's Manager/PA and as a member of the African National Congress.[2] He joined the Democratic Alliance and was announced as a candidate for the Western Cape Provincial Parliament ahead of the 2014 general election. He was elected and sworn in as an MPP on 21 May 2014.[3] During the fifth term of the provincial parliament, he served as the chairperson of the Standing Committee on Cultural Affairs and Sports.[1]

Mackenzie was re-elected in the 2019 provincial election. He is the DA's constituency head in Mitchells Plain. In June 2019, he was elected as the chairperson of the Standing Committee on the Premier and Constitutional Matters.[1]

Provincial government edit

On 14 February 2023, Weekend Argus reported that Mackenzie was touted as the next Minister of Mobility in the Western Cape following Daylin Mitchell's departure from the position after he was elected Speaker of the Provincial Parliament in December 2022.[4] On 20 February, Mackenzie was appointed to the position by Premier Alan Winde.[5]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Gerber, Jan (4 June 2019). "Former Bitou mayor to chair Western Cape's Scopa". News24. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  2. ^ "Mbalula's aide defects to DA". eNCA. Johannesburg. 25 January 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  3. ^ Felix, Jason; Mzansti, Siyavuya (12 May 2014). "DA leadership gets reshuffle in province". IOL. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  4. ^ Nel, Brandon. "DA's Ricardo Mackenzie tipped to become W Cape MEC for Mobility". Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  5. ^ Tshuma, Nomalanga. "Ricardo Mackenzie appointed as new head of the Western Cape's Mobility Department". Retrieved 20 February 2023.

External links edit