Joe Maswanganyi

Maswanganyi was born on 14 April 1966{{cite magazine |date=11 June 1999 |title=General Notice: Notice 1319 of 1999 – Electoral Commission: Representatives Elected to the Various Legislatures |url=https://gazettes.africa/archive/za/1999/za-government-gazette-dated-1999-06-11-no-20203.pdf |magazine=Government Gazette of South Africa |location=Pretoria, South Africa |publisher=Government of South Africa |volume=408 |issue=20203 |pages= |access-date=26 March 2021}} in Giyani in the former Transvaal.{{Cite web |date=2017-03-31 |title=This is your new transport minister |url=https://www.freightnews.co.za/article/your-new-transport-minister |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=Freight News |language=en}} He grew up in Mudabula, a village in nearby Malamulele.{{Cite web |date=2016-09-29 |title=MP’s hunger for knowledge secures second master’s |url=https://reviewonline.co.za/476394/mps-hunger-for-knowledge-secures-second-masters/ |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=Polokwane Observer |language=en-US}} After matriculating in 1988, he trained as a teacher. Later, after the end of apartheid, he completed a Bachelor of Arts from the University of South Africa in 2000, a Master's degree in governance and political transformation from the University of the Free State in 2006, and a second Master's degree in political science from the University of Venda in 2016.

Maswanganyi worked as a teacher until 1994, when he entered politics full-time. He was the chairperson of the Public Works Commission in 1997.

From 1997 to 2014, Maswanganyi represented his political party, the African National Congress (ANC), in the Limpopo Provincial Legislature.{{Cite web |title=Mkhacani Joseph Maswanganyi |url=http://www.pa.org.za/person/mkhacani-joseph-maswanganyi/ |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=People's Assembly |language=en}} During his first term in the legislature, he was also the national deputy president of the ANC Youth League, deputising Malusi Gigaba; he was succeeded by Rubben Mohlaloga in April 2001, when he stepped down due to having passed the league's 35-year age limit.{{Cite web |date=7 April 2001 |title=Ancyl leader Gigaba re-elected |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/ancyl-leader-gigaba-re-elected-20010407 |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=News24 |language=en-US}}

After serving in several committees in the legislature, Maswanganyi was appointed to the Executive Council of Limpopo under Premier Ngoako Ramatlhodi, who appointed him as Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Local Government and Housing. In this capacity, in early 2002, Maswanganyi became the figurehead of a government campaign to change the names of major cities in the province, including by renaming the capital, Pietersburg, as Polokwane.{{Cite web |last=Fourie |first=Retha |date=28 January 2002 |title=Town names to change |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/town-names-to-change-20020128 |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=News24 |language=en-US}} Maswanganyi said the current names were "a sad reminder of a history of oppressive colonial practices".{{Cite web |date=2002-02-12 |title=Pietersburg, by any other name... |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2002-02-12-pietersburg-by-any-other-name/ |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}} The opposition Freedom Front said that it would protest the scheme through civil disobedience by withholding municipal property taxes.{{Cite web |date=2002-01-29 |title=N-Province Afrikaners vow to fight renaming plan |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2002-01-30-n-province-afrikaners-vow-to-fight-renaming-plan/ |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}

In 2004, Maswanganyi was moved to a new portfolio as MEC for Sports, Arts and Culture in 2004. He was sacked from that position in November 2006 in a reshuffle by Ramatlhodi's successor, Premier Sello Moloto.{{Cite news |date=23 November 2006 |title='Pitso busy trying to destabilise SACP' |work=IOL |url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/pitso-busy-trying-to-destabilise-sacp-304430 |access-date=25 July 2023}} He was succeeded by Joyce Mashamba, who hailed him for having "unified the nation" during his time in the portfolio.{{Cite web |date=15 December 2006 |title=Limpopo art MEC hails predecessor |url=https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/2006-12-15-limpopo-art-mec-hails-predecessor/ |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=Sowetan |language=en-ZA}} Moloto subsequently denied that Maswanganyi's dismissal was part of a "purge" of his opponents; instead, he said that Maswanganyi had followed improper procedure in employing about 200 community development workers.{{Cite web |date=2008-03-27 |title=ANC regions settle scores |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2008-03-28-anc-regions-settle-scores/ |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}

On 20 July 2008, at a provincial party elective conference at the University of Venda, Maswanganyi was elected to the influential position of Provincial Secretary of the Limpopo branch of the ANC. He served under newly elected Provincial Chairperson Cassel Mathale, and Pinky Kekana was elected as his deputy.{{Cite web |date=2008-07-20 |title=Mathale elected as new ANC Limpopo chairperson |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2008-07-20-mathale-elected-as-new-anc-limpopo-chairperson/ |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}} Although Maswanganyi, Mathale, and other top leaders were perceived, at the time of their election, as united in their support for ANC president Jacob Zuma,{{Cite web |date=2008-07-20 |title=Zuma camp takes control of Limpopo |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2008-07-20-zuma-camp-takes-control-of-limpopo/ |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}} Mathale later fell out with Zuma, while Maswanganyi remained a supporter.{{Cite web |date=2017-11-08 |title=Joe Maswanganyi: We don’t anoint leaders in the ANC like in churches |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2017-11-08-00-joe-maswanganyi-we-dont-anoint-leaders-in-the-anc-like-in-churches/ |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}

At the party's next provincial elective conference in December 2011, Maswanganyi stood for re-election on a slate of candidates aligned to Joe Phaahla, who sought to unseat Mathale from the chairmanship at the same conference.{{Cite web |date=2011-07-15 |title=Move to oust Cassel Mathale |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2011-07-15-move-to-oust-cassel-mathale/ |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}{{Cite web |date=2011-11-04 |title=Disunity threatens bid to oust Cassel Mathale |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2011-11-04-disunity-threatens-bid-to-oust-cassel-mathale/ |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}{{Cite web |date=2011-11-25 |title=Dethroning Mathale |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2011-11-25-dethroning-mathale/ |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}{{Cite web |date=5 November 2017 |title=Two Joes, one Cassel |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/two-joes-one-cassel-20150429 |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=News24 |language=en-US}} However, he was defeated by Soviet Lekganyane, who received 601 votes to Maswanganyi's 517.{{Cite web |date=20 December 2011 |title=Analysts expect victorious premier to reshuffle cabinet and reward his allies |url=https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/2011-12-20-analysts-expect-victorious-premier-to-reshuffle-cabinet-and-reward-his-allies/ |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=Sowetan |language=en-ZA}}

On 27 May 2015, Maswanganyi was sworn in to the National Assembly, the lower house of the South African Parliament. He filled the seat that had been vacated when Collins Chabane died.{{Cite web |date=13 November 2018 |title=Fifth Parliament: List of Members |url=https://static.pmg.org.za/181113_NA_MEMBERS_ALPHABETIC.pdf |access-date=10 June 2018 |website=Parliamentary Monitoring Group}} During his first two years in the assembly, Maswanganyi was a backbencher, serving on the Portfolio Committee on Transport and the Standing Committee on the Auditor-General.{{Cite web |title=Mkhacani Joseph Maswanganyi, Mr |url=https://www.gov.za/about-government/contact-directory/mkhacani-joseph-maswanganyi-mr |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=South African Government}}

Just after midnight in the early hours of 31 March 2017, President Zuma announced a controversial cabinet reshuffle in which Maswanganyi was appointed to replace Dipuo Peters as Minister of Transport.{{Cite web |last=Thamm |first=Marianne |date=2017-03-31 |title=The axeman strikes: Gordhan sidelined in Zuma’s late-night cabinet reshuffle gamble |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2017-03-31-the-axeman-strikes-gordhan-sidelined-in-zumas-late-night-cabinet-reshuffle-gamble/ |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=Daily Maverick |language=en}} His deputy was Sindisiwe Chikunga.{{Cite web |date=3 April 2017 |title=We won't allow Zuma to 'be treated like a lame duck' – new transport minister |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/we-wont-allow-zuma-to-be-treated-like-a-lame-duck-new-transport-minister-20170403 |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=News24 |language=en-US}} In the immediate aftermath of the announcement, the national Automobile Association expressed concern about Peters's abrupt and unexplained dismissal.{{Cite web |date=31 March 2017 |title=SA's new Transport minister raises 'more questions than answers' – AA |url=https://www.news24.com/life/sas-new-transport-minister-raises-more-questions-than-answers-aa-20170331 |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=News24 |language=en-US}} However, the Mail & Guardian was less surprised by Maswanganyi's promotion, noting that the ANC Youth League and Limpopo ANC had "long punted him for a position in the cabinet"; indeed, the newspaper said that he "may hold the record as the politician who has been most often tipped to be elevated to high office only to be passed over time and again".{{Cite web |date=2017-03-31 |title=Fierce loyalty reaps big rewards |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2017-03-31-fierce-loyalty-reaps-big-rewards/ |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}

By the end of the year, the Mail & Guardian said that Maswanganyi appeared still "to be searching for his bearings" in the ministry.{{Cite web |date=2017-12-20 |title=M&G Cabinet Report Cards 2017: Joe Maswanganyi |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2017-12-21-00-mg-cabinet-report-cards-2017-joe-maswanganyi/ |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}} During the same period, he received media coverage for undertaking to appoint Dudu Myeni, the controversial former chairperson of South African Airways, as a special adviser in his office; defending the appointment, he told the Sunday Times that he "needed someone with aviation experience".{{Cite web |date=3 December 2017 |title=Myeni lands plum job that may put her back in SAA's pilot seat |url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2017-12-02-myeni-lands-plum-job-that-may-put-her-back-into-saas-pilot-seat/ |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=Sunday Times |language=en-ZA}}{{Cite web |date=2018-06-05 |title=No room for Dudu Myeni in Nzimande’s office |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2018-06-05-no-room-for-dudu-myeni-in-nzimandes-office/ |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}

At the ANC's 54th National Conference at Nasrec in December 2017, Maswanganyi was elected to a five-year term as a member of the party's National Executive Committee. By number of votes received, he was ranked 49th of the 80 ordinary members elected to the committee.{{Cite web |date=21 December 2017 |title=Meet the new ANC NEC |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/meet-the-new-anc-nec-20171221 |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=News24 |language=en-US}} However, ahead of the conference, he backed the losing presidential candidate: he was viewed as a key Limpopo lobbyist of Zuma's preferred successor, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma,{{Cite web |date=2017-10-27 |title=All eyes on ANC branch nominations |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2017-10-27-00-all-eyes-on-anc-branch-nominations/ |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}{{Cite web |date=2017-11-08 |title=Joe Maswanganyi: We don’t anoint leaders in the ANC like in churches |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2017-11-08-00-joe-maswanganyi-we-dont-anoint-leaders-in-the-anc-like-in-churches/ |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}} who was beaten at the conference by Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa.

In February 2018, Ramaphosa was further elected to succeed Zuma as President of South Africa. In his first cabinet reshuffle, announced on 26 February, he sacked Maswanganyi, replacing him with Blade Nzimande.{{Cite web |date=26 February 2018 |title=Who is in and who is out: Ramaphosa's Cabinet reshuffle |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/who-is-in-and-who-is-out-ramaphosas-cabinet-reshuffle-20180226 |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=News24 |language=en-US}} Maswanganyi remained in the National Assembly as an ordinary Member of Parliament.

On 30 May 2018, ANC Chief Whip Jackson Mthembu announced that the party would nominate Maswanganyi to chair Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration.{{Cite web |date=30 May 2018 |title=Joe Maswanganyi named new chair of Parliament’s public service committee |url=https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/national/2018-05-30-joe-maswanganyi-named-new-chair-of-parliaments-public-service-committee/ |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=Business Day |language=en-ZA}} He was formally elected to the position at a committee meeting later the same day.{{Cite web |date=30 May 2018 |title=Government mandates & budget allocation; PSC promotion of constitutional values in public service; Election of Chairperson; with Minister |url=https://pmg.org.za/committee-meeting/26538/ |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=Parliamentary Monitoring Group |language=en}} He succeeded Mathale, his former rival, whom Ramaphosa had appointed as a deputy minister.

In the 2019 general election, Maswanganyi was comfortably re-elected to the National Assembly, ranked 21st on the ANC's national party list. After the election, the ANC announced that it would nominate him to chair the Standing Committee on Finance;{{Cite web |date=19 June 2019 |title=ANC releases list of portfolio committee chair nominees |url=https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/south-africa/2019-06-19-anc-releases-list-of-portfolio-committee-chair-nominees/ |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=Sowetan |language=en-ZA}} he was formally elected, unopposed, on 2 July 2019.{{Cite web |date=2 July 2019 |title=Election of Committee Chairperson |url=https://pmg.org.za/committee-meeting/28493/ |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=Parliamentary Monitoring Group |language=en}} After his election, he told press that he would seek to ensure that longstanding investigations into misconduct at Steinhoff and VBS Mutual Bank would "reach a conclusion" during his tenure in the chair.{{Cite web |last=Diemen |first=Ethan Van |date=2 July 2019 |title=Parliament's new finance chair promises to wrap up Steinhoff, VBS probes |url=https://www.news24.com/fin24/parliaments-new-finance-chair-promises-to-wrap-up-steinhoff-vbs-probes-20190702-2 |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=Business |language=en-US}}

At the ANC's next national conference in December 2022, he was re-elected to the National Executive Committee, ranked 39th; he received 1,317 votes across about 4,000 ballots.{{Cite web |date=22 December 2022 |title=Full list: ANC NEC members |url=https://www.enca.com/news/full-list-anc-nec-members |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=eNCA |language=en}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{People's Assembly (South Africa)|mkhacani-joseph-maswanganyi|Mr Mkhacani Joseph Maswanganyi}}
• [https://www.parliament.gov.za/person-details/195 Mr Mkhacani Joseph Maswanganyi] at Parliament of South Africa
• [https://www.news24.com/fin24/maswanganyi-vows-bold-state-intervention-to-drive-transformation-20170524-2 "Maswanganyi vows bold state intervention to drive transformation"] at News24
• [https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/former-transport-minister-should-be-suspended-says-parliaments-ethics-committee-20230615 "Former transport minister should be suspended, says Parliament’s ethics committee"] at News24

{{Current MPs of South Africa}}

{{Jacob Zuma cabinet 2}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Maswanganyi, Joe}}

Category:1966 births

Category:Living people

Category:African National Congress politicians

Category:Ministers of transport of South Africa

Category:Members of the National Assembly of South Africa 2024–2029

Category:Members of the Limpopo Provincial Legislature

Category:University of South Africa alumni

Category:University of the Free State alumni

Category:20th-century South African politicians

Category:Members of the National Assembly of South Africa 2019–2024

Category:Members of the National Assembly of South Africa 2014–2019