Evert du Plessis explained

Evert du Plessis
Honorific-Suffix:MPL
Office:Member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature
Term Start:11 March 2021
Birthname:Evert Phillipus du Plessis
Birth Date:26 July 1974
Nationality:South African
Party:Democratic Alliance
Otherparty:Democratic
Spouse:Yolande Thiart du Plessis
Children:2
Education:Carletonville High School
Alma Mater:North West University - Potchefstroom Campus
Occupation:Politician

Evert Phillipus du Plessis (born 26 July 1974) is a South African politician and a Member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature for the Democratic Alliance (DA).

Early life and education

Du Plessis was born on 26 July 1974. He matriculated from Carletonville High School and earned a Honours degree in Political Sciences from the North West University - Potchefstroom Campus. He is currently busy with his post-graduate studies at the University of the Witwatersrand.[1] After university, Du Plessis wanted to join foreign affairs, national intelligence or military intelligence but decided to become involved in party politics.[2]

Political career

At the age of 16, Du Plessis decided that he wanted to be a politician. In 1995, he met Democratic Party leader Tony Leon in Potchefstroom. Du Plessis then joined the Democratic Party at the age of 24 in 1998 and became the chairperson of the party's Carletonville branch. The Democratic Alliance was formed out of a merger of the old DP, the New National Party and the much smaller Federal Alliance in 2000. Du Plessis later became the DA ward councillor for ward 6 in the Randfontein Local Municipality. He stood for Parliament in 2014 as a candidate on the DA lists, but he was not elected.[3] [4]

In 2015 Du Plessis was elected as the regional chairperson of the DA's West Rand Region in Gauteng. He stood for Parliament again in 2019 and was placed higher on the DA's lists.[5] He was elected as a DA MP in the National Assembly, however, he was not available to take up the seat and the DA gave his seat to Adrian Roos from Pretoria.[6] [7]

In 2020, he stood down as the DA's West Rand regional chair and the DA deputy chief whip in the National Assembly, Jacques Julius, who is also from Randfontein, was elected to succeed him.[8]

On 11 March 2021, Du Plessis was sworn in as a DA member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature.[9]

Personal life

Du Plessis is married to Yolande Thiart du Plessis. They have two children.[10] Du Plessis and his family live in Randfontein.

Notes and References

  1. News: van Zyl . Maritza . DA-voorsitter sien lig aan die einde van die tonnel . 12 June 2021 . Randfontein Herald . September 27, 2017.
  2. News: De Villiers . Roxy . R’fonteiner elected new West Rand DA Chairperson . 12 June 2021 . Randfontein Herald . 7 May 2015 . Randfontein.
  3. Web site: Democratic Alliance (DA) Candidates for the 2014 national election . People's Assembly . 12 June 2021.
  4. Web site: Democratic Alliance (DA) Candidates for the 2014 national election Gauteng . People's Assembly . 12 June 2021.
  5. News: Selfe . James . #DALists: One South Africa for All in action . 12 June 2021 . Democratic Alliance . 16 March 2019.
  6. News: SEE: These are the people who will represent you in Parliament, provincial legislatures . 12 June 2021 . News24 . 15 May 2019.
  7. Web site: National Assembly members (As on 22 May 2019) . Parliamentary Monitoring Group . 12 June 2021.
  8. News: Chothia . Andrea . DA announces provincial leadership election results . 12 June 2021 . The South African . 21 November 2020.
  9. GPLegislature . 1369981701951266819. New member update: The Honourable Speaker presided over the swearing-in of a new Member, Hon. Evert Phillipus du Plessis this morning (Thursday, 11 March 2021) at 09h30. #GPL #MyGPL.
  10. News: van Zyl . Maritza . Twee duxleerders in een huis . 12 June 2021 . Randfontein Herald . 21 November 2017 . Afrikaans.