Michael Bagraim

Michael Bagraim is a South African politician and labour lawyer. A member of the Democratic Alliance, he was elected to the National Assembly in 2014. He was then appointed Shadow Deputy Minister of Labour. In 2017, Bagraim was promoted to Shadow Minister of Labour. After the 2019 election, he was made Shadow Deputy Minister of Labour and Employment.

Michael Bagraim

MP
Shadow Deputy Minister of Labour and Employment
Assumed office
5 June 2019
LeaderMmusi Maimane
John Steenhuisen
Preceded byPost established
Shadow Minister of Labour
In office
1 June 2017 – 5 June 2019
DeputyDerrick America
LeaderMmusi Maimane
Preceded byIan Ollis
Succeeded byPost abolished
Shadow Deputy Minister of Labour
In office
5 June 2014 – 1 June 2017
LeaderMmusi Maimane
Preceded byHaniff Hoosen
Succeeded byDerrick America
Member of the National Assembly of South Africa
Assumed office
21 May 2014
Personal details
Born
Michael Bagraim
NationalitySouth African
Political partyDemocratic Alliance
EducationCape Town High School
Alma materRhodes University
OccupationMember of Parliament
ProfessionLabour lawyer
Politician

Background

Bagraim was born into a Jewish family in Cape Town.[1] He matriculated from Cape Town High School before he went on to study at Rhodes University where he graduated with a BA degree in political science and an LLB degree.[2] Bagraim served on the university's Student Representative Council (SRC) and represented Rhodes University on the Debating Society and Law Students' Association.[3]

In 1982, Bagraim was admitted as an advocate.[2] He was admitted as an attorney four years later. He then founded Michael Bagraim & Associates and worked as a consultant.[2] Bagraim is trustee of the Cape Chamber of Commerce & Industries, the South African Jewish Board of Deputies and the MOSAIC – Training, Service and Healing Centre for Women.[3]

Political career

Bagraim stood as a Democratic Alliance parliamentary candidate from Western Cape in the 2019 national elections, and was subsequently elected to the National Assembly as the DA retained its position as the official opposition. Bagraim sworn in on 21 May 2014.[4] On 5 June 2014, the DA parliamentary leader, Mmusi Maimane, appointed Bagraim as Shadow Deputy Minister of Labour, deputising for Ian Ollis.[5] Later that month, he became a member of the Portfolio Committee on Labour.[3]

On 1 June 2017, he was appointed Shadow Minister of Labour, replacing Ollis.[6][7] Bagraim was re-elected to parliament in the 8 May 2019 general election.[8] Soon after, he was appointed by Maimane to be Shadow Deputy Minister of Labour and Employment.[9] Maimane resigned as DA leader in October 2019 and John Steenhuisen was elected to succeed him as interim leader. He temporarily retained Maimane's shadow cabinet.[10]

Bagraim said in May 2020 that South Africa's labour legislation needs re-egineering, because the labour laws have "done nothing to enchance job creation".[11] He argued in an opinion piece in September 2020 that the Unemployed Insurance Fund had failed the South African workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic.[12]

After Steenhuisen was elected DA leader for a full term in November 2020, he announced his shadow cabinet in December 2020. Bagraim remained as Shadow Deputy Minister of Labour and Employment.[13]

References
  1. "Two Jewish MPs talk on their roles in Parliament". sajr.co.za. 13 August 2014. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  2. "Michael Bagraim". bagraimsattorneys.co.za. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  3. "Mr Michael Bagraim". People's Assembly. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  4. "2014 elections: List of DA MPs elected to the National Assembly". Politicsweb. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  5. Maimane, Mmusi (5 June 2014). "The DA's shadow cabinet - Mmusi Maimane". Politicsweb. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  6. Ferreira, Emise (1 June 2017). "DA makes key changes to shadow Cabinet". Independent Online. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  7. Davis, Gaye (1 June 2017). "DA's Mmusi Maimane reshuffles shadow Cabinet". Eyewitness News. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  8. "SEE: These are the people who will represent you in Parliament, provincial legislatures". News24. 15 May 2019. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  9. Gerber, Jan (5 June 2019). "Here's the DA's 'shadow cabinet'". News24. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  10. De Klerk, Aphiwe (17 November 2019). "John Steenhuisen elected DA interim leader". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  11. Bagraim, Michael (26 May 2020). "SA's labour legislation needs re-engineering". IOL. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  12. Bagraim, Michael (10 September 2020). "The UIF has failed the SA workforce". IOL. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  13. Mazzone, Natasha (5 December 2020). "DA announces new Shadow Cabinet that will bring Real Hope and Real Change". Democratic Alliance. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
Political offices
Preceded by
Position established		 Shadow Deputy Minister of Labour and Employment
2019–present		 Incumbent
Preceded by
Ian Ollis		 Shadow Minister of Labour
2017–2019		 Succeeded by
Position abolished
Preceded by
Haniff Hoosen		 Shadow Deputy Minister of Labour
2014–2017		 Succeeded by
Derrick America
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