Zamani Saul

Zamani Saul (born 7 March 1972) is a South African politician who is the 5th and current Premier of the Northern Cape and a Member of the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature. He has also been serving as the Provincial Chairperson of the African National Congress (ANC) since his election on 12 May 2017. He previously served as the Provincial Secretary and as the Deputy Provincial Secretary of the party.[1]

The Honourable

Zamani Saul

MPL
5th Premier of the Northern Cape
Assumed office
22 May 2019
Preceded bySylvia Lucas
Chairperson of the African National Congress in the Northern Cape
Assumed office
12 May 2017
DeputyBentley Vass
Preceded byJohn Block
Secretary of the African National Congress in the Northern Cape
In office
29 August 2008 – 12 May 2017
DeputyAlvin Botes
Preceded byNeville Mompati
Succeeded byDeshi Ngxanga
Deputy Secretary of the African National Congress in the Northern Cape
In office
March 2004 – 29 August 2008
Preceded byJohn Block
Succeeded byAlvin Botes
Member of the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature
Assumed office
22 May 2019
Personal details
Born (1972-03-07) 7 March 1972
NationalitySouth African
Political partyAfrican National Congress
Spouse(s)Tapsy Saul
ResidenceKimberley, Northern Cape
Alma materUniversity of the Western Cape
University of the Free State
University of South Africa
OccupationPolitician

Life and education

Zamani Saul completed his Grade 12 at Umso High School in Colesberg. He obtained a master's degree in Development Studies from the University of the Free State and a Master of Laws degree from the University of the Western Cape. He, later on, also achieved a Doctorate of Laws degree in Public Law and Jurisprudence from the same university. Saul is currently studying towards a Doctorate of Philosophy in Multi-Disciplinary Studies through the University of South Africa.[2] He is married to Tapsy Saul, and they have children together. Their one son matriculated in 2018.[3]

Political career

Saul served as the municipal manager of the Pixley ka Seme District Municipality from 2000 to 2008.[4] He served as ANC Deputy Provincial Secretary from 2004 until his election as Provincial Secretary in 2008. He won re-election to a second term in 2012.[5][6]

On 12 May 2017, Saul was elected unopposed as the Provincial Chairperson of the Northern Cape African National Congress branch after Premier Sylvia Lucas had withdrawn her nomination for the position. Saul succeeded John Block, who had resigned from the position in October 2015. Deshi Ngxanga succeeded Saul as Provincial Secretary.[7][8]

Saul is seen as someone who is aligned with the Ramaphosa faction of the African National Congress, as he endorsed Cyril Ramaphosa to become ANC President in 2017.[9][10][11] On 8 May 2019, the ANC retained their majority in the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature. Saul was selected as the party's premier candidate on 13 May 2019. He assumed the office on 22 May 2019.[12][13][14] In his first few months, he pledged to cut what he called "wastage" from the Northern Cape government; citing as Premier he would get a bowl of fresh fruit every morning and that his car would be replaced after 120,000km while ambulances in the province would run at 952,000+km.[15] Accordingly he banned Northern Cape ministers from getting new cars and used the money to buy 63 new ambulances instead.[16]

References
  1. "Zamani Saul is new ANC Northern Cape chairperson". eNCA. 13 May 2017. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
  2. Swart, Murray (1 September 2017). "ANC provincial chairperson Zamani Saul awarded his doctorate". DFA. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
  3. Davis, Desere. "ANC Northern Cape chairperson's son matriculates with flying colours". Briefly. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
  4. "Know your premier: Zamani Saul". SABC Digital News. 22 May 2019. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
  5. "John Block re-elected as North Cape ANC leader". Mail & Guardian. 29 August 2008. Archived from the original on 31 August 2008. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  6. "John Block re-elected ANC NCape chairperson". Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  7. Whittles, Govan (12 May 2017). "Zamani Saul elected Northern Cape chairperson after shock withdrawal by Sylvia Lucas". Mail & Guardian.
  8. "Lucas vs Saul in battle for Northern Cape ANC". News24. 11 May 2017. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
  9. "Northern Cape ANC emerges divided from elective conference". eNCA. 13 May 2017. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
  10. "Ramaphosa backer Zamani Saul elected NC chairperson". TheCitizen. 12 May 2017. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
  11. "Ramaphosa backer Zamani Saul elected Northern Cape ANC chair". Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  12. "ANC comes out tops in Northern Cape". Retrieved 10 May 2019.
  13. "These are (almost) all the names of the ANC's premier candidates". Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  14. "Here are SA's 9 premiers elected by their provinces". Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  15. https://mg.co.za/article/2019-07-05-00-sauls-bold-last-stand-for-the-anc/
  16. https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/northern-cape-premier-saul-keeps-his-promise-buys-ambulances-instead-of-cars-for-mecs-20190605
Political offices
Preceded by
Sylvia Lucas		 5th Premier of the Northern Cape
2019–present		 Incumbent
Party political offices
Preceded by
John Block		 Provincial Chairperson of the African National Congress
2017–present		 Incumbent
Preceded by
Neville Mompati		 Provincial Secretary of the African National Congress
2008–2017		 Succeeded by
Deshi Ngxanga
Preceded by
John Block		 Deputy Provincial Secretary of the African National Congress
2004–2008		 Succeeded by
Alvin Botes
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