Zamani Saul Explained

Honorific-Prefix:The Honourable
Zamani Saul
Honorific-Suffix:MPL
Office:5th Premier of the Northern Cape
Term Start:22 May 2019
Predecessor:Sylvia Lucas
Office1:Chairperson of the African National Congress in the Northern Cape
Deputy1:Bentley Vass
Term Start1:12 May 2017
Predecessor1:John Block
Office2:Secretary of the African National Congress in the Northern Cape
Deputy2:Alvin Botes
Term Start2:29 August 2008
Term End2:12 May 2017
Predecessor2:Neville Mompati
Successor2:Deshi Ngxanga
Office3:Deputy Secretary of the African National Congress in the Northern Cape
Term Start3:March 2004
Term End3:29 August 2008
Predecessor3:John Block
Successor3:Alvin Botes
Office4:Member of the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature
Term Start4:22 May 2019
Birth Date:7 March 1972
Nationality:South African
Party:African National Congress
Spouse:Tapsy Saul
Residence:Kimberley, Northern Cape
Alma Mater:University of the Western Cape
University of the Free State
University of South Africa
Occupation:Politician
Mawards:is not set -->

Zamani Saul (born 7 March 1972) is a South African politician who is the 5th and current Premier of the Northern Cape and a Member of the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature. He has also been serving as the Provincial Chairperson of the African National Congress (ANC) since his election on 12 May 2017. He previously served as the Provincial Secretary and as the Deputy Provincial Secretary of the party.[1]

Life and education

Zamani Saul completed his Grade 12 at Umso High School in Colesberg. He obtained a master's degree in Development Studies from the University of the Free State and a Master of Laws degree from the University of the Western Cape. He, later on, also achieved a Doctorate of Laws degree in Public Law and Jurisprudence from the same university. Saul is currently studying towards a Doctorate of Philosophy in Multi-Disciplinary Studies through the University of South Africa.[2] He is married to Tapsy Saul, and they have children together. Their one son matriculated in 2018.[3]

Political career

Saul served as the municipal manager of the Pixley ka Seme District Municipality from 2000 to 2008.[4] He served as ANC Deputy Provincial Secretary from 2004 until his election as Provincial Secretary in 2008. He won re-election to a second term in 2012.[5] [6]

On 12 May 2017, Saul was elected unopposed as the Provincial Chairperson of the African National Congress in the Northern Cape after Premier Sylvia Lucas had withdrawn her nomination for the position. Saul succeeded John Block, who had resigned from the position in October 2015. Deshi Ngxanga succeeded Saul as Provincial Secretary.[7] [8]

Saul is seen as someone who is aligned with the Ramaphosa faction of the African National Congress, as he endorsed Cyril Ramaphosa to become ANC President in 2017.[9] [10] [11] On 8 May 2019, the ANC retained their majority in the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature. Saul was selected as the party's premier candidate on 13 May 2019. He assumed the office on 22 May 2019.[12] [13] [14] In his first few months, he pledged to cut what he called "wastage" from the Northern Cape government; citing as Premier he would get a bowl of fresh fruit every morning and that his car would be replaced after 120,000 km while ambulances in the province would run at 952,000+km.[15] Accordingly he banned Northern Cape ministers from getting new cars and used the money to buy 63 new ambulances instead.[16]

External links

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Notes and References

  1. News: Zamani Saul is new ANC Northern Cape chairperson. eNCA. 13 May 2017. 21 April 2019. 21 April 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190421160123/https://www.enca.com/south-africa/zamani-saul-is-the-northern-cape-ancs-new-chairperson. dead.
  2. News: Swart. Murray. ANC provincial chairperson Zamani Saul awarded his doctorate. DFA. 1 September 2017. 21 April 2019.
  3. News: Davis. Desere. ANC Northern Cape chairperson's son matriculates with flying colours. Briefly. 21 April 2019.
  4. News: Know your premier: Zamani Saul. SABC Digital News. 22 May 2019. 27 June 2019.
  5. News: John Block re-elected as North Cape ANC leader. Mail & Guardian. 29 August 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080831143140/https://mg.co.za/article/2008-08-29-john-block-reelected-as-north-cape-anc-leader. 31 August 2008. 2 July 2019.
  6. News: John Block re-elected ANC NCape chairperson. 2 July 2019.
  7. News: Whittles. Govan. Zamani Saul elected Northern Cape chairperson after shock withdrawal by Sylvia Lucas. Mail & Guardian. 12 May 2017.
  8. News: Lucas vs Saul in battle for Northern Cape ANC. News24. 11 May 2017. 21 April 2019.
  9. News: Northern Cape ANC emerges divided from elective conference. eNCA. 13 May 2017. 21 April 2019.
  10. News: Ramaphosa backer Zamani Saul elected NC chairperson. TheCitizen. 12 May 2017. 21 April 2019.
  11. News: Ramaphosa backer Zamani Saul elected Northern Cape ANC chair. 2 July 2019.
  12. News: ANC comes out tops in Northern Cape. 10 May 2019.
  13. News: These are (almost) all the names of the ANC's premier candidates. 13 May 2019.
  14. News: Here are SA's 9 premiers elected by their provinces. 22 May 2019.
  15. Web site: Saul's bold last stand for the ANC. 5 July 2019.
  16. Web site: Northern Cape Premier Saul keeps his promise, buys ambulances instead of cars for MECs.