Solly Msimanga facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Solly Msimanga
MPL
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Msimanga in 2017
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| Provincial Leader of the Democratic Alliance in Gauteng |
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| Assumed office 14 November 2020 Acting: 2 September 2020 - 14 November 2020 |
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| Preceded by | John Moodey |
| Leader of the Opposition in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature | |
| Assumed office 22 May 2019 |
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| Premier | David Makhura Panyaza Lesufi |
| Preceded by | John Moodey |
| Member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature | |
| Assumed office 12 February 2019 |
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| In office 21 May 2014 – 19 August 2016 |
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| Mayor of Tshwane | |
| In office 19 August 2016 – 11 February 2019 |
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| Preceded by | Kgosientso Ramokgopa |
| Succeeded by | Stevens Mokgalapa |
| Provincial Chairperson of the Democratic Alliance in Gauteng | |
| In office 22 November 2014 – 18 November 2017 |
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| Preceded by | Michael Moriarty |
| Succeeded by | Michael Moriarty |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Solly Tshepiso Msimanga
16 July 1980 Atteridgeville, Pretoria, South Africa |
| Political party | Democratic Alliance (2006–present) |
| Spouse | Monde Msimanga (former) |
| Children | Amogelang Msimanga Aobokwe Msimanga |
| Alma mater | University of Pretoria (BCompt) |
Solly Tshepiso Msimanga (born 16 July 1980) is a South African politician. He is the Leader of the Opposition in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature since May 2019. He has been a member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature since February 2019. Before that, he was the Executive Mayor of the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality from 2016 to 2019. He also served as the Democratic Alliance's (DA) Provincial Chairperson from 2014 to 2017.
Solly Msimanga was the DA's candidate for Premier of Gauteng in the 2019 elections. He is currently the DA's candidate for the same position in the 2024 elections.
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Early Life and Education
Solly Tshepiso Msimanga was born in Atteridgeville, a township near Pretoria, South Africa. He went to Isaac Moré Primary School, Patogeng Higher Primary, and Saulridge High School. He earned a national diploma in marketing management. He also studied for a BCompt degree at the University of Pretoria.
Career Before Politics
Before joining politics, Msimanga worked in different roles. He worked with an organization called Project Literacy. He also worked at the Liberian embassy and later at the United States embassy. He was a national director for Legal Education And Development. He also held several important management jobs in private companies.
Starting in Politics
Solly Msimanga first joined the Democratic Alliance (DA) in 2006. After attending a DA event, he wrote to the party with ideas on how to improve their campaigns. Soon after, the party's CEO, Ryan Coetzee, offered him a job.
Msimanga began to move up in the party. In May 2011, he was elected to the Tshwane City Council. In the same year, he became the leader of the DA's Gauteng North region.
In May 2014, Msimanga was elected as a Member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature. He became the party's spokesperson for sports in the province. He also served on important committees for Education and Economic Development in the legislature.
DA Leadership Roles
In November 2014, Solly Msimanga became the DA Provincial Chairperson in Gauteng. He took over from Michael Moriarty.
In November 2017, Michael Moriarty became the DA Provincial Chairperson again. Msimanga decided not to run for re-election at that time.
In March 2018, Msimanga announced he would run for the position of Federal Chairperson of the Democratic Alliance. This was before the party's Federal Congress. On 8 April 2018, he lost to the person who held the position at the time, Athol Trollip.
Time as Mayor
In September 2015, Msimanga was chosen as the DA's candidate for Mayor of the City of Tshwane. This was for the 2016 local government elections. He won against other candidates like Brandon Topham and Bronwyn Engelbrecht.
After the election, the DA became the largest party in Tshwane, but they did not have enough votes to win alone. Msimanga became the Executive Mayor of Tshwane by forming a team with several smaller parties. The Economic Freedom Fighters also supported him. He was the first DA member to become Mayor of Tshwane.
When he became Mayor, Msimanga said he wanted to stop "blue-lights brigades" in the city. These are convoys of cars with flashing blue lights, often used by VIPs. He said that only the President should have them. He wanted to show that the residents were the most important people in the city.
In May 2018, it was found that Msimanga's chief of staff, Marietha Aucamp, had not been truthful about her qualifications. She resigned on 17 May 2018. An investigation later found that her appointment was not lawful.
In August 2018, both the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the African National Congress (ANC) tried to remove Msimanga as Mayor. They put forward motions of no confidence. On 30 August 2018, the EFF's motion was not allowed because it did not follow the council's rules. The EFF then left the council meeting. The ANC later withdrew their motion because they did not have enough support.
On 27 September 2018, Msimanga survived another motion of no confidence from the ANC. The EFF did not vote. Most councillors voted against the motion, allowing Msimanga to remain Mayor.
Msimanga's final months as Mayor involved issues with a large contract given to a company called GladAfrica. Msimanga tried to suspend the City Manager, Moeketsi Mosola, because of this. Mosola announced in July 2019 that he would leave his position.
On 18 January 2019, Msimanga announced he would step down as Mayor of Tshwane. He said he wanted to focus on his campaign to become Premier of Gauteng. He officially resigned on 11 February 2019. Stevens Mokgalapa became the new Mayor. After resigning, Msimanga became a Member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature.
Gauteng Premier Campaigns
On 19 August 2018, Msimanga was announced as the DA's candidate for Premier of Gauteng for the 2019 general elections. He won against other strong candidates.
In the 8 May 2019 elections, the African National Congress kept their majority in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature. The Democratic Alliance remained the official opposition. Msimanga was elected as the DA's caucus leader on 17 May 2019. He officially became the Leader of the Opposition on 22 May 2019.
On 13 September 2023, DA leader John Steenhuisen announced that Msimanga would be the party's Gauteng premier candidate for the 2024 provincial election.
Provincial Leadership Roles
Msimanga was chosen as the DA's acting provincial leader on 2 September 2020. This happened after the previous leader, John Moodey, resigned from the party. Msimanga then ran for the full leadership position at the party's provincial congress in November. He won by a large margin against James Lorimer.
At the DA's Provincial Congress on 12 August 2023, Msimanga won a second term as provincial leader. He defeated Khume Ramulifho in the election.
Personal Life
Solly Msimanga married Monde Msimanga in 2006. They had two children, Amogelang and Aobokwe. Solly and Monde worked together on a charity project called “Make Somebody’s Christmas a Merry One.” This project gives groceries to families who need help. The couple later divorced. Monde Msimanga passed away in June 2022.
Images for kids
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Msimanga in 2017
