Councillor
Chris Pappas
Mayor Pappas in 2021
Mayor of the uMngeni Local Municipality
Assumed office
22 November 2021
DeputySandile Mnikathi
Preceded bySizwe Sokhela
Deputy Provincial Leader of the Democratic Alliance in KwaZulu-Natal
In office
27 March 2021 – 29 April 2023
LeaderFrancois Rodgers
Preceded byMergan Chetty
Succeeded bySthembiso Ngema
Member of the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature
In office
22 May 2019 – November 2021
Succeeded byMmabatho Tembe[1]
Personal details
Born
Christopher John Pappas

(1991-08-26) 26 August 1991
Mooi River, Natal Province, South Africa
Political partyDemocratic Alliance
(2014-present)
Other political
affiliations		Congress of the People (2010-2013)
Residence(s)Howick, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Education
Alma materUniversity of Pretoria

Christopher "Chris" John Pappas (born 26 August 1991) is a South African politician who is the mayor of the uMngeni Local Municipality. A member of the Democratic Alliance, he served as party's deputy provincial leader from 2021 until 2023. Pappas served as a member of the eThekwini city council from 2016 until 2019 and as a DA Member of the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature from 2019 to 2021.

In September 2023, Pappas was included on the "TIME100 Next list" by Time magazine. He is his party's candidate for the premiership of KwaZulu-Natal in the country's 2024 election.[2][3]

Early life and education

Pappas is from Mooi River and has a sister. He attended Treverton Preparatory School and College and then Hilton College, matriculating in 2009. While studying Town and Regional Planning at the University of Pretoria, he was approached by COPE to run for the student representative council under their banner. He agreed and was then elected to the university's SRC. Pappas served as the temporary president of the student body at one stage.[4]

Career

Before going into politics, Pappas worked as a development economist for Urban-Econ. Having joined the Democratic Alliance, he was the party's campaign manager in KwaZulu-Natal for the 2014 general election.[4]

He was elected as the ward councillor for ward 31 in the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality in 2016.[4] In August 2018, he was criticised for calling the city "dirty and dangerous".[5]

Pappas was elected to the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature in the May 2019 provincial election.[6][7] He was then appointed as the DA's spokesperson on agriculture.[8]

In January 2021, Pappas was made the party's spokesperson on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, replacing Mbali Ntuli.[9] On 27 March 2021, he was elected as the Deputy Provincial Leader of the Democratic Alliance in KwaZulu-Natal, defeating Hlengiwe Shozi and Samier Singh.[10][11]

Mayor of uMngeni

On 11 September 2021, Pappas was announced as the DA's mayoral candidate for the uMngeni Local Municipality ahead of the local government election in November 2021.[12] uMngeni became the first DA majority municipality in KZN, which was accredited to Pappas' "spirited campaign".[13]

On 12 November 2021, the suspended ANC municipal manager Thembeka Cibane tried to preside over the inaugural council meeting. The DA objected to her presiding over the meeting at the Howick-West community hall and refused to participate as it would be illegal. The DA subsequently walked out of the meeting. Pappas and other DA councillors were sworn in at the Howick Magistrate's court later that day.[14][15] On 17 November, the DA filed court papers to compel the acting municipal manager, Sandile Buthelezi, to call a first council meeting for the municipality's leadership to be elected.[16] The Pietermaritzburg High Court ruled in favour of the DA and ordered Buthelezi to convene a council meeting.[17] On 22 November 2021, Pappas was elected as mayor, becoming the first DA mayor in KwaZulu-Natal. He is the first openly gay man to be elected mayor in the country and across Africa.[18]

In January 2023, Pappas announced that he would be standing down as deputy provincial leader of the DA at the party's provincial conference in April.[19] Outgoing deputy provincial chairman Sthembiso Ngema was elected to succeed him.[20]

On 13 September 2023, Pappas was included on the "2023 TIME100 Next list" by Time magazine.[21][22][23]

Controversies

An investigation into allegations of nepotism was initiated against Pappas following a complaint by Sizwe Mchunu, a former DA leader in KZN. [24]

Personal life

Pappas is openly gay.[25] He speaks Zulu and English fluently.[26]

References

  1. ↑ "DA welcomes eThekwini Cllr Mmabatho Tembe to KZN Legislature Caucus team". Democratic Alliance - KwaZulu-Natal. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  2. ↑ Makhaye, Chris. "Unflinching Chris Pappas rises to top DA candidate in battle for KZN". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  3. ↑ Liebenberg, Dries. "Pappas named DA's premier candidate for KZN in 2024 general election". SABC. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 "New ward 31 councillor prepared for the job". Berea Mail. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  5. ↑ DA councillor slammed over 'dirty dangerous Durban' post. IOL. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  6. ↑ DA promotes four councillors to the KZN Legislature
  7. ↑ Walford, Lauren. "Durban councillors bid farewell to ward work". Berea Mail. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  8. ↑ New DA KZN Caucus team ready to add value to Legislature. Democratic Alliance KZN. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  9. ↑ Felix, Jason (5 January 2021). "Mbali Ntuli shuffled as DA in KwaZulu-Natal makes sweeping changes to legislature". News24. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  10. ↑ Mtshali, Samkelo (27 March 2021). "DA on the cusp of announcing new provincial leaders in KZN". IOL. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  11. ↑ Mtshali, Samkelo (27 March 2021). "Francois Rodgers named new DA provincial leader in KZN". IOL. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  12. ↑ Ndou, Clive. "DA in campaign to take over uMngeni Municipality". Witness. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  13. ↑ Bhengu, Lwandile (2 November 2021). "DA wins first ever KwaZulu-Natal municipality, after being voted in Umngeni". News24. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  14. ↑ "IN PICS | uMngeni inauguration stalls after DA walks out over suspended ANC member's presence". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  15. ↑ Capa, Siyamtanda. "WATCH | Drama at uMngeni Municipality's DA inauguration". Witness. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  16. ↑ News, Eyewitness. "DA takes legal action forcing uMngeni municipal manager to call council meeting". ewn.co.za. Retrieved 10 December 2021. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  17. ↑ Capa, Siyamtanda. "JUST IN | Court rules in DA's favour on uMngeni council meeting dispute". Witness. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  18. ↑ Ndou, Clive. "DA officially takes charge of uMngeni in KZN". Witness. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  19. ↑ Phungula, Willem. "uMngeni mayor Pappas not running for DA deputy leadership position". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  20. ↑ Macupe, Bongekile. "DA KZN Congress: Clean sweep for Rodgers and Mcpherson who retain leadership positions". News24. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  21. ↑ "2023 TIME100 Next: Chris Pappas". Time. 13 September 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  22. ↑ "uMngeni mayor Christopher Pappas selected as a TIME100 Next future leader". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  23. ↑ Lekabe, Thapelo. "uMngeni mayor Christopher Pappas makes TIME100 Next list". City Press. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  24. ↑ Goba, Thabiso. "uMngeni Mayor Chris Pappas denies nepotism allegations involving fiancé". ewn.co.za. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  25. ↑ de Wee, Naledi (8 November 2021). "History in the making: Chris Pappas will be SA's first openly gay mayor". The South African. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  26. ↑ "Historic! Chris Pappas to become SA's first openly gay mayor". MambaOnline - Gay South Africa online. 5 November 2021. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
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