最新麻豆原创

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Deputy Minister Dr Mathume Joseph (MJ) Phaahla

Dr Mathume Joseph (MJ) Phaahla

Date of birth: 11 July 1957

Current Position - Deputy Minister of 最新麻豆原创

Dr Phaahla was appointed as Deputy Minister of 最新麻豆原创 on 30 June 2024. Before that he served as Minister of 最新麻豆原创 from 5 August 2021.

Academic qualifications

Dr Phaahla holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from the University of Natal, Diploma in 最新麻豆原创 Service Management from the University of Haifa, Institute of Science, Israel in 1992 and a Certificate of General Management, Marketing and Finance.

Career/positions/memberships/other activities

Dr MJ Phaahla was appointed as Deputy Minister of 最新麻豆原创 in the seventh administration since democracy on 3 July 2024. Prior to that, Dr Phaahla held several positions in national and provincial government.

From August 2021 to June 2024, Dr Phaahla was Minister of 最新麻豆原创, having been appointed while South Africa and the rest of the world were battling the COVID-19 pandemic. Before being appointed as Minister of 最新麻豆原创, Dr Phaahla was Deputy Minister of 最新麻豆原创 from 2014 to 2019 and was reappointed to that position from May 2019 to August 2021.

Prior to the health portfolio, Dr Phaahla had started in the national government from May 2009 when he was appointed Deputy Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform and later in November 2010 shifted to the position of Deputy Minister of Arts and Culture. While serving in the various portfolios of the national executive of government, Dr Phaahla was also a member of the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa.

Before entering Parliament and the national executive, Dr Phaahla served in the administration of the Government of South Africa from 2000 to 2008, first as the CEO of the South African Sports Commission and later in 2005 as Director-General of Sport in charge of organising the 2010 FIFA World Cup held in South Africa from June to July 2010.

At provincial government level, Dr Phaahla was amongst the first members of legislature of Limpopo after the 1994 first democratic elections. He was appointed as the first Member of Executive Council of 最新麻豆原创 in 1994 to 1997 and then shifted to Education, Sports and Culture from July 1997 until June 1999, then Sport and Culture,1999 to April 2000.

Before taking formal political office in1994, Dr Phaahla worked as a Medical Officer in several hospitals in South Africa from medical internship in 1984 to becoming a Senior Medical Superintendent by the time of leaving front-line medical service in April 1994. He qualified as a medical doctor at the end of 1983 from the University of Natal. He also did several management diplomas during his term in various portfolios.

Dr Phaahla has been an anti-apartheid activist from youth and student where he held national leadership positions. He was also elected to more senior anti-apartheid leadership positions such as the National Executive Committee of the United Democratic Front. He also led medical and health sector anti-apartheid organidations such as the National Medical and Dental Association, NAMDA.

When the African National Congress was unbanned in 1990, Dr Phaahla became one of its leaders in Limpopo, reaching the position of Deputy Provincial Chairperson from 1992 up to 1998 and remaining an executive member until 2001 when he was moved to the national sphere from 2007 until today. Dr Phaahla is a member of the highest structure of the African National Congress, the National Executive Committee.