Tasneem Motara (born 7 December 1982) is a South African politician who has been the Gauteng MEC (Member of the Executive Council) for Economic Development since 2022 and a member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature since 2019. She was the MEC for Infrastructure Development and Property Management between May 2019 and October 2022. From May 2014 to May 2019, she represented Gauteng in the National Council of Provinces. She served as the chief whip of the provincial delegation. Motara is a member of the African National Congress.[2]

Tasneem Motara
Motara in May 2019
Gauteng MEC for Economic Development
Assumed office
7 October 2022
PremierPanyaza Lesufi
Preceded byParks Tau
Gauteng MEC for Infrastructure Development and Property Management
In office
30 May 2019 – 6 October 2022
PremierDavid Makhura
Preceded byJacob Mamabolo
Succeeded byOffice abolished
Member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature
Assumed office
22 May 2019
Permanent delegate to the National Council of Provinces from Gauteng
In office
22 May 2014 – 7 May 2019
Personal details
Born
Tasneem Motara

(1982-12-07) 7 December 1982 (age 41)
Benoni, Transvaal Province, South Africa
Political partyAfrican National Congress
SpousePhiwe Maphanga[1]
ProfessionPolitician

Early life and education edit

Motara was born on 7 December 1982, to an Indian father and a Coloured mother, in Benoni, Transvaal Province. After finishing high school, Motara studied for a degree in psychology from the University of South Africa.[3]

Political career edit

Motara joined the African National Congress Youth League's branch in Benoni in 2000. She has served on the branch executive committees of multiple wards and branches. She currently serves on the ANC's regional executive committee in Ekurhuleni. Motara was also active in the South African Students Congress.[3]

Following the 2014 general election, Motara was elected to represent Gauteng in the National Council of Provinces, the upper house of the South African Parliament. She was appointed chief whip of the provincial delegation.[3] In June 2018, the Parliamentary Monitoring Group published a report on the ages of parliamentarians.[4] In the report, Motara was named the seventh youngest parliamentarian as well as the youngest ANC MP of both houses.[5]

In the 2019 Gauteng provincial election, Motara was elected to the Gauteng Provincial Legislature. She was sworn in as an MPL on 22 May. Premier David Makhura appointed her MEC for Infrastructure Development and Property Management on 29 May. She was sworn in the following day.[6][7]

On 27 June 2022, Motara was elected as the deputy provincial secretary of the ANC in Gauteng.[8] In October 2022, she became the MEC for Economic Development in the executive council of premier Panyaza Lesufi.[9]

Personal life edit

In January 2018, Motara announced that she was HIV positive after her former partner threatened to expose her status.[10] She tested positive for COVID-19 on 3 July 2020.[11]

References edit

  1. ^ Mbhele, Sandisiwe (28 August 2022). "Moneoa lays charges against alleged 'swindler' ex-partner". The Citizen. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  2. ^ Pijoos, Iavan (29 May 2019). "WATCH l Meet Gauteng's new MECs". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  3. ^ a b c Mokgobu, Anastasi (14 September 2019). "MEC Tasneem Motara ready to get her hands dirty". The Citizen. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  4. ^ "Youth in Parliament 2018". pmg.org.za. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  5. ^ "South Africa's 7 youngest MPs are . . ". TimesLIVE. 15 June 2018. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  6. ^ "MEET THE NEW GAUTENG CABINET" (PDF). NewsFlash. 2 June 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  7. ^ "Makhura announces new Gauteng cabinet". eNCA. Johannesburg. 29 May 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  8. ^ Mntambo, Nokukhanya. "Gauteng ANC elects new leadership, with Panyaza Lesufi as chair". ewn.co.za. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  9. ^ Nemakonde, Vhahangwele (7 October 2022). "Lesufi reshuffles Gauteng's Cabinet: Here are the new members". The Citizen. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  10. ^ Petersen, Tammy (28 January 2019). "'I want him out of my life' – ANC MP discloses HIV status after ex 'threatens' her". News24. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  11. ^ Karrim, Azarrah (6 July 2020). "Gauteng infrastructure MEC Tasneem Motara tests positive for Covid-19". News24. Retrieved 15 July 2020.

External links edit