Bernice Swarts

Bernice Swarts
MP
Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Environmental Affairs
Incumbent
Assumed office
7 March 2023
Preceded byNoxolo Kiviet
Member of the National Assembly of South Africa
Incumbent
Assumed office
22 May 2019
ConstituencyGauteng
Personal details
Born
Bernice Swarts

(1972-02-19) 19 February 1972 (age 52)
NationalitySouth African
Political partyAfrican National Congress
OccupationMember of Parliament

Bernice Swarts (born 19 February 1972) is a South African politician who is the current Deputy Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure and a Member of the National Assembly of South Africa for the African National Congress.

Parliamentary career

In March 2019, the African National Congress (ANC) announced their candidate lists for the national and provincial elections on 8 May 2019. Swarts was placed 17th on the ANC's Gauteng regional to national list.[1] At the election on May 8, the ANC won 53.2% of the vote on the national ballot in Gauteng, which resulted in them winning 26 out of the 47 regional Gauteng seats in the National Assembly.[2][3] Swarts was elected to the National Assembly and sworn into office on 22 May during the first sitting of parliament following the election.[4]

On 27 June 2019, Swarts was appointed to serve on the Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation and the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA).[5]

In November 2019, it was reported that Swarts was being probed for allegedly deceiving businessperson Tuwani Mulaudzi in 2013 of R500,000 under the pretext that the money was going to be donated to the ANC's 2014 election campaign. Mulaudzi attempted to get Swarts to repay the money after he learnt that Swarts had decided to keep the money for herself, but she refused to repay him. Only after it was announced that she was elected an MP, he decided to reclaim the money again and reported the matter to the National Assembly speaker, Thandi Modise, who referred it to the ANC chief in the National Assembly, Pemmy Majodina.[6]

On 15 July 2020, Swarts left the Standing Committee on Public Accounts. She then only served on the Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation.

In March 2021 Swarts rejected opposition parties' claims that the government turns a blind eye to officials who have been found guilty of corruption in the public sector. She said that the government is taking the matter seriously.[7]

Career in government: 2023

Swarts was promoted to Deputy Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure in March 2023.[8]

In July 2023, Swarts unsuccessfully stood for the position of Deputy President of the African National Congress Women's League at the league's elective conference.[9] She lost to Lungi Mnganga-Gcabashe.[10]

Appointed deputy minister of department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environmental Affairs (DFFE) since July 2024

References

  1. ^ "ANC national and provincial lists for 2019 elections". Politicsweb. 17 March 2019. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  2. ^ "2019 National Election: Detailed Results - All Provinces" (PDF). Centurion, South Africa: Electoral Commission of South Africa. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  3. ^ "2019 National Election: Seat Calculation - Vote and Seat Summary" (PDF). Centurion, South Africa: Electoral Commission of South Africa. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  4. ^ "SEE: These are the people who will represent you in Parliament, provincial legislatures". News24. 15 May 2019. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  5. ^ "Announcements, tablings and committee reports" (PDF). Parliament of South Africa. 27 June 2019. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  6. ^ Sama Yende, Sizwe (10 November 2019). "MP probed after R500K for ANC elections campaign goes missing". City Press. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  7. ^ Merrington, Zalene (12 March 2021). "Opposition MPs decry lack of action on public sector corruption". SABC News Online. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  8. ^ Zyl, Corné van (6 March 2023). "Cabinet reshuffle: Here's EVERY change made by Ramaphosa". The South African. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  9. ^ Mahlati, Zintle. "Sisisi Tolashe is the new president of the ANC Women's League". News24. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  10. ^ "Ramaphosa camp solidifies strength in ANCWL with Tolashe presidency". The Mail & Guardian. 23 July 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2023.