Mike Waters (politician)

Mike Waters (born 30 June 1967) is a South African politician, and Member of Parliament for the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA), where he served as the Opposition's Deputy Chief Whip from 2014-2019.[1] He has served as the Shadow Minister of Health [2] and as the Shadow Minister of Social Development.

Mike Waters

MP
Opposition Deputy Chief Whip in the National Assembly
In office
2014–2019
LeaderHelen Zille, Mmusi Maimane
Preceded bySandy Kalyan
Succeeded byJacques Julius
Shadow Minister of Social Development
In office
2012–2014
Preceded byPatricia Kopane
Succeeded byPatricia Kopane
Shadow Minister of Health
Succeeded byPatricia Kopane
Member of Parliament
for Kempton Park & Edenvale, Gauteng
Assumed office
May 1999
Personal details
Born (1967-06-30) 30 June 1967
Middlesbrough, United Kingdom
NationalitySouth African
Political partyDemocratic Alliance
Alma materTechnikon Witwatersrand

Early life

Waters attended Bedfordview High School before attaining a diploma in human resources from Technikon Witwatersrand. He joined the Democratic Party in 1989, and became president of the DP National Youth in 1994.[3]

Political career

Waters began his professional political career on the Kempton Park town council, winning a landmark by-election against the National Party in 1997. He was elected to Parliament in 1999, and subsequently was appointed DA spokesperson on Child Abuse. In 2004 he became Social Development spokesperson.[3] He succeeded Gareth Morgan as Shadow Health Minister in 2006, a position he held until 2012.

Policy issues

AIDS policy

Waters has been a vocal critic of the African National Congress's health policies, particularly those of controversial former health minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang.

Child abuse

As the DA's spokesperson on child abuse, Waters visited all 45 child protection units in South Africa during 2002. The following year he visited all 48 sexual offences units.[3] He was vocally critical of the ruling ANC's decision to disband the amalgamated Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences units in 2006.[4]

National Health Insurance

Waters has publicly criticised the ANC's proposed national health insurance scheme. He has labeled the plan anti-poor and irresponsible:

As always, the poor will be hardest hit, because the NHI does nothing to address the crisis in public health care. That crisis has been caused by a shortage of nurses and doctors, inadequate facilities and resources, and weak management systems. The poor bear the brunt of it. The NHI is not pro-poor. In fact it is anti-poor. It is a sure-fire recipe for the destruction of public health care.[5]

References
  1. "National List MPs" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2009-07-17.
  2. "DA shadow cabinet - full list of names".
  3. "Mr Mike Waters". Archived from the original on 2007-11-12.
  4. "DA slams closure of SAPS units".
  5. "NHI will do nothing to improve dire state of hospitals - DA". Archived from the original on 2013-04-22.

Offices held
Political offices
Preceded by
Gareth Morgan		 South African Shadow Minister of Health
2009-2012		 Succeeded by
Patricia Kopane
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