Ravi Pillay Explained

Ravi Pillay
Office:KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs
Premier:Sihle Zikalala
Term Start:17 November 2020
Term End:9 August 2022
Predecessor:Nomusa Dube-Ncube
Successor:Siboniso Duma[1]
Office1:KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Finance
Premier1:Sihle Zikalala
Term Start1:27 May 2019
Term End1:17 November 2020
Predecessor1:Belinda Scott
Successor1:Nomusa Dube-Ncube
Office2:KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Human Settlements and Public Works
Premier2:Willies Mchunu
Senzo Mchunu
Zweli Mkhize
Term Start2:15 November 2011
Term End2:27 May 2019
Predecessor2:Maggie Govender
Successor2:Peggy Nkonyeni
Office3:Member of the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature
Term Start3:6 May 2009
Term End3:9 August 2022
Birthname:Ravigasen Ranganathan Pillay
Birth Date:18 November 1958
Birth Place:Port Shepstone, Natal Province
Nationality:South African
Party:African National Congress
Alma Mater:University of Durban-Westville
Profession:Attorney
Politician

Ravigasen Ranganathan "Ravi" Pillay (born 18 November 1958) is a South African attorney and African National Congress (ANC) politician who served as the Member of the Executive Council for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs in the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government from November 2020 until August 2022. He was the MEC for Finance from May 2019 to November 2020 and the MEC for Human Settlements and Public Works from 2011 to 2019. Pillay was elected to the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature in 2009 and served as the legislature's chief whip of the majority party from 2009 to 2011.

Early life and education

Pillay was born on 18 November 1958 in Port Shepstone in the Natal Province. He studied at the University of Durban-Westville and obtained both a BA degree and an LLB degree. He was a student activist at the university and joined the ANC in 1981.[2]

Political career

After apartheid, Pillay became the inaugural speaker of the Hibiscus Coast Local Municipality and was later promoted to be speaker of the Ugu District Municipality.

Pillay was elected as an MPL in May 2009. He was then appointed the chief whip of the ANC caucus in the legislature. Later, in November 2011, he was appointed as the MEC for Human Settlements and Public Works. He served in the post under three premiers from 2011 to 2019: Zweli Mkhize, Senzo Mchunu and Willies Mchunu.[3] [4] [5]

Pillay was appointed acting premier in March 2018, becoming the first Indian South African to hold the post. He had since been acting premier on multiple occasions.[6]

In May 2019, Pillay became the MEC for Finance in the cabinet of Sihle Zikalala. He took over from Belinda Scott, who left the provincial government.[7] Pillay was appointed as the MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs in November 2020, replacing Nomusa Dube-Ncube.[8]

On 9 August 2022, Pillay resigned from the provincial government and the provincial legislature.[9] [10]

External links

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Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2022-08-11 . Cabinet clean-out as Dube-Ncube takes over as KwaZulu-Natal premier . 2022-08-11 . The Mail & Guardian . en-ZA.
  2. Web site: Profile of MEC Ravi Pillay . KZN Treasury . 24 April 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200424210301/http://www.kzntreasury.gov.za/AboutUs/SitePages/KwaZulu-Natal%20Treasury%20-%20MEC%20Profile.aspx . 24 April 2020.
  3. News: Zikalala . Sihle . ANC KZN backs Mkhize's cabinet reshuffle . 24 April 2020 . Politicsweb . 15 November 2011.
  4. News: Mchunu . Senzo . The new KZN cabinet - Senzo Mchunu . 24 April 2020 . Politicsweb . 26 May 2014.
  5. News: UPDATED: Cabinet reshuffle in KwaZulu-Natal . 24 April 2020 . eNCA . 6 June 2016 . Durban.
  6. News: Marriah - Maharaj . Jolene . LOOK: MEC Ravi Pillay sworn is as KZN Acting Premier . 24 April 2020 . IOL . 3 September 2019.
  7. News: Singh . Kaveel . Premier Sihle Zikalala announces his KZN cabinet . 24 April 2020 . News24 . 24 April 2020.
  8. News: KZN Premier Zikalala reshuffles his Cabinet . 17 November 2020 . EWN . 17 November 2020.
  9. Web site: Singh . Kaveel . KZN MEC Ravi Pillay bows out of provincial legislature in wake of Zikalala's resignation . 2022-08-10 . News24 . en-US.
  10. Web site: Another member of KwaZulu-Natal cabinet resigns . 2022-08-10 . TimesLIVE . en-ZA.