Ricardo Mackenzie Explained

Ricardo Mackenzie
Honorific-Suffix:MPP
Office:Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport of the Western Cape
Premier:Alan Winde
Term Start:13 June 2024
Predecessor:Anroux Marais
Office1:Minister of Mobility of the Western Cape
Premier1:Alan Winde
Term Start1:20 February 2023
Term End1:13 June 2024
Predecessor1:Daylin Mitchell
Successor1:Isaac Sileku
Office2:Member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament
Term Start2:21 May 2014
Birthname:Ricardo Denver Mackenzie
Nationality:South African
Party:Democratic Alliance (2014–present)
Otherparty:African National Congress (Until 2014)
Alma Mater:University of the Witwatersrand
Occupation:Member of the Provincial Parliament
Profession:Politician

Ricardo Denver Mackenzie is a South African politician who has served as the Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport of the Western Cape since June 2024. He had previously served as the Provincial Minister of Mobility from February 2023 until June 2024. A member of the Democratic Alliance, he has been a Member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament since May 2014.

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

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

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.

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.

Provincial government

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]

After the 2024 provincial election, Winde moved him to the Sport and Cultural Affairs portfolio of the Provincial Cabinet.[6]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Gerber . Jan . Former Bitou mayor to chair Western Cape's Scopa . 21 June 2020 . News24 . 4 June 2019.
  2. News: Mbalula's aide defects to DA . 21 June 2020 . eNCA . 25 January 2014 . Johannesburg.
  3. News: Felix . Jason . Mzansti . Siyavuya . DA leadership gets reshuffle in province . 21 June 2020 . IOL . 12 May 2014.
  4. News: Nel . Brandon . DA's Ricardo Mackenzie tipped to become W Cape MEC for Mobility . en . 2023-02-20.
  5. News: Tshuma . Nomalanga . Ricardo Mackenzie appointed as new head of the Western Cape's Mobility Department . en . 2023-02-20.
  6. 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.