Bonginkosi Dhlamini
MPL
Member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature
Assumed office
May 2010
Member of the National Assembly
In office
21 June 2000 – 4 May 2010
ConstituencyGauteng
Personal details
CitizenshipSouth Africa
Political partyInkatha Freedom Party

Bonginkosi Wesley Dhlamini is a South African politician who has represented the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature since May 2010. He is the current provincial chairperson of the IFP in Gauteng and formerly represented the party in the National Assembly from 2000 to 2010.

Early life and career

Dhlamini grew up in Soweto in the former Transvaal during apartheid. He joined the IFP (then known as Inkatha) in 1983 and served as chairperson of Inkatha's Soweto branch from 1985 to 1987.[1]

National Assembly: 2000–2010

Dhlamini was first sworn in to Parliament on 21 June 2000, representing the IFP in the Gauteng constituency; he filled the casual vacancy that arose when Themba Khoza died.[2] He served in the National Assembly until May 2000, gaining re-election in 2004[3] and 2009.[4] In 2006, he was questioned in the liquidation inquiry that emanated from the Travelgate scandal.[5]

During the xenophobic violence of May 2008, Dhlamini addressed a crowd in Alexandra, the epicentre of the violence, and sought to ameliorate tensions. According to the Mail & Guardian, he said told the crowd:

As the IFP, we are here to make it clear that we condemn these attacks and are here to ask you not to go around attacking people in the IFP’s name... indeed the government has failed you, but you should not continue these attacks as opportunistic criminals will take advantage and you, as South Africans, would end up fighting against each other. As the IFP we understand your frustrations, however, our Constitution says South Africa is a South Africa for all, which means everyone including the foreigners are welcome. The IFP argued that the Constitution should, in fact, say South Africa is a South Africa for all that were born in it, however, the ANC, as usual, did not listen to us.[6]

Dhlamini resigned from the National Assembly just over a year after the 2009 election, on 4 May 2010, when the IFP arranged for him to swop seats with Petros Sithole.[7] Dhlamini was sworn in to Sithole's seat in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature in order to "focus his full attention on the needs of Gauteng".[8]

Provincial legislature: 2010–present

He has served in the provincial legislature since May 2010, gaining re-election in 2014 and 2019.[4] At the IFP's provincial elective conference in Ekurhuleni in October 2019, Dhlamini was elected provincial chairperson of the IFP in Gauteng, with Zandile Majozi as his deputy.[9]

References

  1. ↑ "In Conversation with GPL Chairpersons". Gauteng Legislature. 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  2. ↑ "The National Assembly List of Resinations and Nominations". Parliament of South Africa. 2 June 2002. Archived from the original on 2 June 2002. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
  3. ↑ "General Notice: Notice 717 of 2004 - Electoral Commission – List of Names of Representatives in the National Assembly and the Nine Provincial Legislatures in Respect of the Elections Held on 14 April 2004" (PDF). Government Gazette of South Africa. Vol. 466, no. 2677. Pretoria, South Africa: Government of South Africa. 20 April 2004. pp. 4–95. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  4. 1 2 "Bonginkosi Dhlamini". People's Assembly. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  5. ↑ "A taste of prison for Travelgate accused". The Mail & Guardian. 22 May 2006. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  6. ↑ "'They must leave or die …'". The Mail & Guardian. 16 May 2008. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  7. ↑ "Members of the National Assembly". Parliamentary Monitoring Group. Archived from the original on 9 February 2014. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  8. ↑ "Gauteng Provincial Conference: Address By Prince MG Buthelezi MP". Inkatha Freedom Party. 27 June 2010. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  9. ↑ "Bonginkosi Dhlamini elected IFP Gauteng chairperson". IOL. 14 October 2019. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
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