Mlibo Qoboshiyane

Mlibo Qoboshiyane
MPL
Deputy Speaker of the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature
Incumbent
Assumed office
17 May 2018
Speaker
Member of the Eastern Cape Executive Council for Rural Development and Agrarian Reform
In office
23 May 2014 – 9 May 2018
PremierPhumulo Masualle
Preceded byZoleka Capa
Succeeded byXolile Nqatha
Member of the Eastern Cape Executive Council for Local Government and Traditional Affairs
In office
27 November 2010 – 23 May 2014
PremierNoxolo Kiviet
Preceded bySicelo Gqobana
Succeeded byFikile Xasa (for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs)
Personal details
CitizenshipSouth Africa
Political partyAfrican National Congress

Mlibo Qoboshiyane is a South African politician who has been serving as Deputy Speaker of the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature since 17 May 2018. Before that, he was the Eastern Cape's Member of the Executive Council for Rural Development and Agrarian Reform from 2014 to 2018 under Premier Phumulo Masualle.

Political career

In a cabinet reshuffle announced on 27 November 2010, Noxolo Kiviet, then the Premier of the Eastern Cape, appointed Qoboshiyane to the Eastern Cape Executive Council as Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Local Government and Traditional Affairs.[1][2] Qoboshiyane held that office until the 2014 general election, when he was re-elected to his seat in the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature, ranked second on the provincial party list of the African National Congress (ANC).[3] After the election, newly elected Premier Phumulo Masualle appointed him MEC for Rural Development and Agrarian Reform.[4]

Qoboshiyane remained in that portfolio until 9 May 2018, when Masualle effected a major cabinet reshuffle in which Qoboshiyane was fired and replaced by Xolile Nqatha.[5] City Press reported that the provincial leadership of the ANC, led by Oscar Mabuyane, had forced Masualle to make the changes.[6] Mabuyane had succeeded Masualle as ANC Provincial Chairperson at a hotly contested party elective conference in October 2017, at which Qoboshiyane had supported Masualle over Mabuyane.[7][8][9]

After he left the Executive Council, Qoboshiyane retained his legislative seat. On 17 May 2018, he was elected unopposed as the Deputy Speaker of the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature; he succeeded Bulelwa Tunyiswa, who had been appointed to the Executive Council in the same reshuffle in which Qoboshiyane was fired.[10] In the 2019 general election, Qoboshiyane was re-elected to the legislature, ranked seventh on the ANC's party list, and was re-elected as Deputy Speaker.[11]

Ahead of the ANC's next party elective conference in 2022, Qoboshiyane campaigned to replace Mabuyane as ANC Provincial Chairperson.[12] Mabuyane and Babalo Madikizela were viewed as the frontrunners in the election, but Qoboshiyane presented himself as a compromise candidate leading a slate which also included MECs Fundile Gade and Weziwe Tikana-Gxothiwe.[8][9] However, when the conference opened in May 2022, Qoboshiyane withdrew his name from contention and joined Madikizela's slate.[9][13] Mabuyane ultimately won re-election and, at the same conference, Qoboshiyane failed to gain election to the ANC's Provincial Executive Committee.[14]

Personal life

Qoboshiyane has a twin sister, Mlibokazi; their birthday is 16 June.[15][self-published source][16] He is married to Vatiswa Qoboshiyane.[16]

References

  1. ^ "10 new ministries for E Cape". News24. 27 November 2010. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  2. ^ "Eastern Cape Provincial Government and Cabinet composition". South African Government. 27 November 2010. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  3. ^ "Mlibo Qoboshiyane". People's Assembly. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  4. ^ "Statement by Mr Phumulo Masualle, Premier of the Eastern Cape, on the occasion of the appointment and swearing-in of Members of the Executive Council". South African Government. 23 May 2014. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  5. ^ "Phumulo Masualle fires four MECs and reshuffles his government". Business Day. 10 May 2018. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  6. ^ Ngcukana, Lubabalo (14 May 2018). "ANC twists Eastern Cape premier's arm". City Press. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  7. ^ "Oscar Mabuyane elected chair as a challenge to #ANCECConference looms". The Mail & Guardian. 1 October 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  8. ^ a b De Klerk, Aphiwe (31 January 2022). "Would-be ANC EC chair Mlibo Qoboshiyane cites disunity as reason for leadership challenge". Sunday Times. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  9. ^ a b c Masuabi, Queenin (8 May 2022). "Mlibo Qoboshiyane's move to Babalo Madikizela's slate could shake up ANC Eastern Cape leadership race – here's how". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  10. ^ "Qoboshiyane elected deputy speaker unopposed". Daily Dispatch. 17 May 2018. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  11. ^ "New Speaker to start work". Graaff-Reinet Advertiser. 26 June 2019. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  12. ^ Nkosi, Nomazima (6 May 2022). "Mlibo Qoboshiyane not fazed by opponents' fanfare, says his campaign was 'organic'". Sowetan. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  13. ^ "Is Mlibo Qoboshiyane a true kingmaker in Eastern Cape ANC conference?". The Mail & Guardian. 8 May 2022. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  14. ^ "Statement on the outcomes of the 9th Eastern Cape Provincial Conference". African National Congress. 10 May 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  15. ^ ANC Eastern Cape (16 June 2020). "Happy Birthday 🎂 to the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature Deputy Speaker, Comrade Mlibo Qoboshiyane. Enjoy your special day Mntungwa". Facebook. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  16. ^ a b "Qoboshiyanes give to the needy on their birthday". Daily Dispatch. 18 June 2020. Retrieved 19 January 2023.