Jaco Londt Explained

Jaco Londt
Honorific-Suffix:MPP
Office:Western Cape Provincial Minister of Social Development
Premier:Alan Winde
Term Start:13 June 2024
Predecessor:Sharna Fernandez
Office1:Member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament
Term Start1:13 June 2024
Office2:Permanent delegate to the National Council of Provinces from the Western Cape
Term Start2:23 May 2019
Term End2:28 May 2024
Term Start3:22 May 2014
Term End3:7 September 2018
Office4:Member of the National Assembly of South Africa
Term Start4:7 September 2018
Term End4:7 May 2019
Birthname:Johan Jaco Londt
Birth Date:27 November 1984
Birth Place:Oudtshoorn, Cape Province, South Africa
Nationality:South African
Party:Democratic Alliance
Spouse:Dorcas Dube Londt
Occupation:Member of Parliament
Profession:Politician

Johan Jaco Londt (born 27 November 1984) is a South African politician who has been the Western Cape's Provincial Minister of Social Development and a Member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament since June 2024. Prior to serving in the provincial parliament, he was a Permanent Delegate to the National Council of Provinces between May 2014 and September 2018 and again from May 2019 until May 2024. Between September 2018 and May 2019, he served as a member of the National Assembly. Londt is a member of the Democratic Alliance (DA), of which he serves as the party's provincial chairperson in the Western Cape. He was chairperson of the party's east region in the Western Cape from 2015 to 2020.

Early life

Londt was born on 27 November 1984 in Oudtshoorn in the former Cape Province.[1] His parents were farmers. He first studied mathematics at the University of Pretoria, before changing it to psychology. Due to financial circumstances, he could not finish the course. In 2006, he was employed as a media officer at the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature. Londt was appointed the provincial director of the Democratic Alliance in 2008.

Political career

Londt was elected to parliament following the 2014 general election that was held on 7 May. He was appointed as one of the Western Cape's delegates in the National Council of Provinces and took office on 22 May.[2] He was elected chairperson of the DA's East Region of the Western Cape in 2015.[3] Londt was re-elected for a second term as chair in 2017.[4] On 7 September 2018, Londt was appointed to the National Assembly. He served in the chamber for only eight months before being appointed back to the NCOP after the general election held on 8 May 2019.[5] He took office on 23 May 2019.

In 2020, Londt stood down as regional chairperson and Tertuis Simmers was elected to succeed him.[6] Londt subsequently declared that he was a candidate to replace Anton Bredell as the DA provincial chairperson.[7] He was elected at the party's virtual provincial congress on 21 November 2020.[8] He was re-elected unopposed as provincial chairperson of the DA at the party's provincial congress in November 2023.[9]

Londt was elected to the Western Cape Provincial Parliament in the 2024 provincial election.[10] He was then appointed as the Provincial Minister of Social Development by premier Alan Winde.[11]

Personal life

Londt is married to Dorcas Dube Londt. She serves as a National Marketing and Communications Manager. Currently she is a PhD Candidate In Strategic Communication at the University of Johannesburg.

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Update: DA's Jaco Londt goes to Parliament . 26 May 2020 . George Herald . 22 May 2014.
  2. News: DA's Jaco Londt goes to Parliament . 26 May 2020 . George Herald . 19 May 2014.
  3. News: Jaco Londt new regional DA chairman . 26 May 2020 . George Herald . 11 February 2015.
  4. News: Londt chairs region for 2nd term . 26 May 2020 . Oudtshoorn Courant . 28 September 2017.
  5. News: DA election candidates . 25 March 2019 . George Herald . 25 March 2019.
  6. News: Gunning. Eugene. 7 November 2020. Tertuis die nuwe leier. Afrikaans. George Herald. 10 November 2020.
  7. News: Gunning. Eugene. 27 August 2020. Jaco Londt wil DA-voorsitter in Wes-Kaap word. Afrikaans. George Herald. 10 November 2020.
  8. News: Chothia. Andrea. 21 November 2020. DA announces provincial leadership election results. The South African. 21 November 2020.
  9. Web site: Felix . Jason . Tertuis Simmers elected DA Western Cape leader, beating Madikizela . 2023-11-12 . News24 . en-US.
  10. Web site: Charles . Marvin . Western Cape legislature to usher in new faces in major shake-up . 2024-06-14 . News24 . en-US.
  11. Web site: Charles . Marvin . Some left out in cold, others stuck on benches: No space in Winde's new cabinet for Nomafrench Mbombo . 2024-06-14 . News24 . en-US.