Darren Bergman

Darren Bergman is a South African politician who has served as Shadow Minister of International Relations and Cooperation since 2019 and has been a Member of Parliament for the Democratic Alliance since 2014. He was Shadow Deputy Minister of Sport and Recreation between 2014 and 2019.

Darren Bergman

MP
Shadow Minister of International Relations and Cooperation
Assumed office
5 June 2019
DeputyMergan Chetty
LeaderMmusi Maimane
John Steenhuisen
Preceded byStevens Mokgalapa
Shadow Deputy Minister of Sport and Recreation
In office
5 June 2014 – 5 June 2019
LeaderMmusi Maimane
Preceded byDonald Lee
Succeeded byPosition dissolved
Member of the National Assembly of South Africa
Assumed office
21 May 2014
Personal details
Born
Darren Bergman
NationalitySouth African
Political partyDemocratic Alliance (2000–present)
Other political
affiliations		Democratic Party (1999–2000)
OccupationMember of Parliament
ProfessionPolitician

Background

Bergman was educated at King David High School in Linksfield, Johannesburg.[1] He was the managing director of Youth Against Crime and a policeman, basic life paramedic and a consultant before he became active in politics. In 1999, he became the regional youth leader of the Democratic Party in Johannesburg.[2] Bergman was elected to the Johannesburg city council in the 2000 municipal election as representative of the newly formed Democratic Alliance.[2] He served as a PR and as a ward councillor for the DA until he was elected to parliament in 2014.[2] Bergman also served as the treasurer of the Africa Liberal Network.[2]

Parliamentary career

Bergman stood as a DA parliamentary candidate in the 2014 national elections and was subsequently elected to the National Assembly of South Africa and sworn in on 21 May 2014.[3] On 5 June 2014, he was appointed Shadow Deputy Minister of Sport and Recreation by Mmusi Maimane, deputising for Solly Malatsi.[4] Bergman became a member of the Portfolio Committee on Sport and Recreation on 20 June 2014. On 17 September 2015, he was appointed an alternate member of the Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation.[1]

Bergman was re-elected to parliament in the national and provincial elections on 8 May 2019.[5] The newly elected DA caucus elected him as a whip.[6] On 5 June 2019, Bergman was promoted to Shadow Minister of International Relations and Cooperation.[7]

Bergman attempted to break up a conflict between EFF MP Marshall Dlamini and fellow DA MP Denis Joseph in September 2019.[8] In October 2019, Maimane resigned as DA leader and John Steenhuisen was elected his interim successor. He temporarily retained Maimane's cabinet.

In October 2020, Bergman criticised president Cyril Ramaphosa, who also serves as chair of the African Union, for being silent on many African crises. He said that Ramaphosa's failure for not speaking out against the attacks on the protests against police brutality in Nigeria, could be seen as him "condoning" it.[9]

After Steenhuisen was elected DA leader for a full term, he announced his shadow cabinet in December 2020. Bergman remained as Shadow Minister of International Relations and Cooperation.[10]

In January 2021, Bergman demanded that South African diplomats pay almost R10 million in unreturned rental deposits.[11]

References
  1. "Mr Darren Bergman". People's Assembly. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  2. "Darren Bergman". liberal-international.org. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  3. "2014 elections: List of DA MPs elected to the National Assembly". Politicsweb. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  4. Maimane, Mmusi (5 June 2014). "The DA's shadow cabinet - Mmusi Maimane". Politicsweb. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  5. "SEE: These are the people who will represent you in Parliament, provincial legislatures". News24. 15 May 2019. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  6. Phakathi, Bekezela (30 May 2019). "DA picks its caucus leadership team". BusinessDay. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  7. Gerber, Jan (5 June 2019). "Here's the DA's 'shadow cabinet'". News24. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  8. Gerber, Jan (17 May 2019). "Tempers flare between EFF, DA after Malema's speech in Parliament". News24. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  9. "DA slams Ramaphosa for being silent on African crises". IOL. 27 October 2020. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  10. Mazzone, Natasha. "DA announces new Shadow Cabinet that will bring Real Hope and Real Change". Democratic Alliance. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  11. Maqhina, Mayibongwe (7 January 2021). "DA wants diplomats to pay back R10m in unreturned rental deposits". IOL. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
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