John Moodey
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Short description|South African politician (born 1958)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix =
| name = John Moodey
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| honorific-suffix =
| image =
| image_size =
| smallimage =
| alt =
| caption =
| office = Director of Operations for ActionSA
| term_start = 29 August 2020
| term_end =
| president = Herman Mashaba
| predecessor = Position established
| successor =
| office1 = Leader of the Opposition in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature
| term_start1 = 21 May 2014
| term_end1 = 22 May 2019
| predecessor1 = Jack Bloom
| successor1 = Solly Msimanga
| office2 = Provincial Leader of the Democratic Alliance
in Gauteng
| term_start2 = 10 March 2012
| term_end2 = 2 September 2020
| predecessor2 = Janet Semple
| successor2 = Solly Msimanga (acting){{cite news |last1=Maphanga |first1=Canny |title=Solly Msimanga appointed as acting DA Gauteng provincial leader |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/SouthAfrica/News/solly-msimanga-appointed-as-acting-da-gauteng-provincial-leader-20200902 |accessdate=8 September 2020 |newspaper=News24 |date=2 September 2020}}
| term_start3 = 12 March 2007
| term_end3 = 18 April 2010
| predecessor3 = Ian Davidson
| successor3 = Janet Semple
| majority3 =
| office4 = Member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature
| term_start4 = 14 April 2004
| term_end4 = 2 September 2020
| birthname = John Clifford Moodey
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1958|11|22}}
| birth_place = Doornfontein, Johannesburg, Transvaal Province
| death_date =
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| citizenship =
| nationality = South African
| party = Democratic Alliance (2000–2020)
| otherparty = Democratic Party (1998–2000)
ActionSA (2020-present)
| education =
| alma_mater =
| occupation = Member of the Provincial Legislature
| profession = Politician
| residence = Florida, Gauteng
| known_for =
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John Clifford Moodey (born 22 November 1958) is a South African politician who is currently serving a Member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature on behlaf of ActionSA.
He previously served as the Provincial Leader of the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng from 2007 to 2010 and from 2012 to 2020. Moodey was a Member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature from 2004 to 2020 and served as Leader of the Opposition from 2014 to 2019. He was the party's Shadow MEC for Community Safety.{{cite news |title=Gauteng DA unveils the province's shadow MECs |url=https://www.iol.co.za/the-star/news/gauteng-da-unveils-the-provinces-shadow-mecs-23836949 |accessdate=2 January 2020 |newspaper=IOL |date=23 May 2019}}
Early life
John Clifford Moodey was born on 22 November 1958 in Doornfontein, a suburb of Johannesburg. He and his family were later evicted and forced to move due to the Group Areas Act. He became an activist while he was still in school.{{cite web |title=John Moodey Gauteng Provincial Leader, MPL |url=https://www.da.org.za/people/john-moodey-mpl |website=Democratic Alliance |accessdate=22 November 2019}}
Political career
Moodey was previously a trade unionist and served on the executive of the Combined Employers Union. He joined the Democratic Party in 1998, which became the Democratic Alliance in 2000. He was elected to the Johannesburg City Council in 2000 as the ward councillor for Florida. He became chairperson of the DA caucus in 2001 and soon deputy chairperson of the party in Gauteng South in 2002.{{cite news |title=New Gauteng DA leader 'not there just to window dress' |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2007-03-12-new-gauteng-da-leader-not-there-just-to-window-dress |accessdate=22 November 2019 |agency=Mail & Guardian |date=12 March 2007}}
He became Provincial Chairperson of the DA in 2004. In the same year, he was appointed a Member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature. He was elected Provincial Leader of the party in 2007, succeeding Ian Davidson to become the party's first black leader in Gauteng. At the DA's October 2009 provincial conference, in a bid to secure re-election, Moodey's campaign sent out SMS's displaying false information.{{cite news |title=Moodey to lead Gauteng DA again |url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/moodey-to-lead-gauteng-da-again-463386 |accessdate=22 November 2019 |newspaper=IOL |date=2 November 2009}}{{cite news |title=Moodey re-elected to lead Gauteng DA |url=https://www.polity.org.za/article/moodey-re-elected-to-lead-gauteng-da-2009-11-02 |accessdate=2 January 2020 |newspaper=Polity |date=2 November 2009}} The provincial conference was nullified and disciplinary steps were taken against Moodey.{{cite news |last1=Hlongwane |first1=Sipho |title=DA Gauteng election: Ollis vs Moodey, the final 24 |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2012-03-09-da-gauteng-election-ollis-vs-moodey-the-final-24/ |accessdate=22 November 2019 |newspaper=The Daily Maverick |date=9 March 2012}} A second provincial conference was promptly called for and held in April 2010, in which former DA MP Janet Semple defeated Moodey by just 8 votes.{{cite news |last1=Du Plessis |first1=Carien |title=Charged DA leader voted out |url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/charged-da-leader-voted-out-480952 |accessdate=22 November 2019 |newspaper=IOL |date=18 April 2010}}{{cite news |last1=Mataboge |first1=Mmanaledi |title=DA divided over leaders |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2010-04-23-da-divided-over-leaders |accessdate=22 November 2019 |newspaper=Mail & Guardian |date=23 April 2010}}{{cite news |title=Moodey backs Semple as DA branch leader |url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/moodey-backs-semple-as-da-branch-leader-480997 |accessdate=22 November 2019 |newspaper=IOL |date=19 April 2010}}
In January 2012, Semple announced her retirement as the provincial leader. Moodey declared his intention to contest the position at the party's conference in March. He was endorsed by Semple and DA Federal Youth Leader Makashule Gana.{{cite news |last1=Ndaba |first1=Baldwin |title=Moodey tipped for Gauteng DA leader |url=https://www.iol.co.za/the-star/moodey-tipped-for-gauteng-da-leader-1251801 |accessdate=22 November 2019 |newspaper=IOL |date=8 March 2012}} Moodey defeated MP Ian Ollis.{{cite news |last1=Hlongwane |first1=Sipho |title=DA elects John Moodey its new leader in Gauteng |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2012-03-11-da-elects-john-moodey-its-new-leader-in-gauteng/ |accessdate=22 November 2019 |agency=The Daily Maverick |date=11 March 2012}}
In November 2014, Moodey was re-elected for another term after he defeated MPL Refiloe Nt'sekhe.{{cite news |title=Moodey re-elected to lead DA Gauteng |url=https://www.enca.com/south-africa/moodey-re-elected-lead-da-gauteng |accessdate=22 November 2019 |newspaper=eNCA |date=22 November 2014 |archive-date=25 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190325175157/https://www.enca.com/south-africa/moodey-re-elected-lead-da-gauteng |url-status=dead }} He secured another term in November 2017 after he defeated Ghaleb Cachalia.{{cite news |title=John Moodey re-elected DA Gauteng leader |url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/john-moodey-re-elected-da-gauteng-leader-12068326 |accessdate=22 November 2019 |newspaper=IOL |date=19 November 2017}}{{cite news |last1=Bendile |first1=Dineo |title=John Moodey is re-elected as Gauteng DA leader |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2017-11-18-john-moodey-is-re-elected-as-gauteng-da-leader |accessdate=22 November 2019 |newspaper=Mail & Guardian |date=18 November 2017}}{{cite news |last1=Gallens |first1=Mahlatse |title='General' John Moodey ready to lead Gauteng DA in 'make or break' 2019 elections |url=https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/general-john-moodey-ready-to-lead-gauteng-da-in-make-or-break-2019-elections-20170922 |accessdate=2 January 2020 |agency=News24 |date=22 September 2017}}
In February 2020, Moodey announced that he would be retiring as provincial leader ahead of the party's upcoming provincial conference to be held later on in the year.{{cite news |last1=Madia |first1=Tshidi |title=DA Gauteng chief makes big all-or-nothing play against Steenhuisen for top job |url=https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/da-gauteng-chief-makes-big-all-or-nothing-play-against-steenhuisen-for-top-job-20200203 |accessdate=3 February 2020 |newspaper=News24 |date=3 February 2020}}{{cite news |title=Moodey touts himself as man to change DA's fortunes, reverse vote losses |url=http://www.702.co.za/articles/374153/moodey-touts-himself-as-man-to-change-da-s-fortunes-reverse-vote-losses |accessdate=6 February 2020 |newspaper=www.702.co.za |date=6 February 2020}} On 24 February 2020, he announced that he would run for DA Federal Leader at the party's Federal Congress, which was scheduled to be held in May.{{cite news |last1=Madisa |first1=Kgothatsa |title=Moodey puts himself forward as best candidate for DA leader |url=https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/2020-02-24-moodey-puts-himself-forward-as-best-candidate-for-da-leader/ |accessdate=24 February 2020 |newspaper=SowetanLIVE |date=24 February 2020}} The elective conference was postponed to October 2020 due to the coronavirus outbreak and Moodey temporarily suspended all campaign activities.{{cite news |last1=Mavuso |first1=Sihle |title=ANC, DA postpone conferences amid coronavirus fears |url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/anc-da-postpone-conferences-amid-coronavirus-fears-44967442 |accessdate=19 March 2020 |newspaper=IOL News |date=16 March 2020}}{{cite news |title=Coronavirus: Ntuli, Moodey suspend campaigns for DA leader |url=https://citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/politics/2256395/coronavirus-ntuli-moodey-suspend-campaigns-for-da-leader/ |accessdate=19 March 2020 |newspaper=The Citizen |date=17 March 2020}}
On 2 September 2020, Moodey resigned from the Democratic Alliance, citing race and an internal disciplinary proceeding.{{cite news |last1=Feketha |first1=Siviwe |title=Moodey resigns from DA, laments party’s ’defence of white interests’ |url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/moodey-resigns-from-da-laments-partys-defence-of-white-interests-4a7a1af0-ef42-4a11-8bbf-a47cd7525113 |accessdate=2 September 2020 |newspaper=IOL |date=2 September 2020}} He joined Herman Mashaba's ActionSA in October.{{cite news |last1=Quintal |first1=Genevieve |title=Former DA Gauteng leader John Moodey joins Mashaba’s ActionSA |url=https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/politics/2020-10-05-former-da-gauteng-leader-john-moodey-joins-mashabas-actionsa/ |accessdate=5 October 2020 |newspaper=BusinessLIVE |date=5 October 2020}}
On the 14th of June 2024, he was officially sworn in as ActionSA's Member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature.{{Cite web |title=ActionSA Finalises Lists that Will Fight For South Africans As Unofficial Opposition |url=https://www.actionsa.org.za/actionsa-finalises-lists-that-will-fight-for-south-africans-as-unofficial-opposition/}}
Personal life
Moodey is married to Barenice. They have children and grandchildren. They reside in Florida, Gauteng.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{People's Assembly (South Africa) | john-moodey |John Moodey}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Moodey, John}}
Category:Politicians from Johannesburg
Category:Democratic Alliance (South Africa) politicians