Tim Harris (politician)
Encyclopedia
Tim Harris is a South African politician, currently a Democratic Alliance member of Parliament's
National Assembly
, where he serves as the Shadow Minister of Trade and Industry. A former chief of staff to party leader Tony Leon
, Harris was the party's national events manager during the 2009 general election campaign
, and was subsequently elected to Parliament aged 29, initially to the National Council of Provinces where he served as the Western Cape's Provincial Whip before being moved to the National Assembly in a Shadow Cabinet reshuffle.
, but grew up in KwaZulu-Natal
, where he attended Hilton College. He moved back to Western Cape
to complete an undergraduate Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Cape Town
, majoring in English Literature and Economics. He then completed an honours degree in economics. After briefly working at an investment bank in Johannesburg
, Harris returned to Cape Town to complete his Masters in Economics, and subsequently joined the Democratic Alliance as a parliamentary economics researcher. In 2005 he was appointed as Chief of Staff for Tony Leon.
In late 2007 and early 2008 he travelled with two friends up Africa's west coast on a the first surf trip between Cape Town and London
by the west coast route - garnering international attention in the process. He told BBC News
of the episode:
Upon returning to politics in 2009, he was appointed campaign events manager for the Democratic Alliance's 2009 election campaign, and was subsequently elected to the National Council of Provinces
for the Western Cape
.
On November 25, 2009, Harris brought to public attention a reply to a Democratic Alliance parliamentary question from Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan
, which showed that more than R240-billion had been spent bailing out state owned entities between 2006 and 2009 by the ANC
government. He pointed out that the sum was sufficient "to build at least four large coal-fired power stations".
Parliament of South Africa
The Parliament of South Africa is South Africa's legislature and under the country's current Constitution is composed of the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces....
National Assembly
National Assembly
National Assembly is either a legislature, or the lower house of a bicameral legislature in some countries. The best known National Assembly, and the first legislature to be known by this title, was that established during the French Revolution in 1789, known as the Assemblée nationale...
, where he serves as the Shadow Minister of Trade and Industry. A former chief of staff to party leader Tony Leon
Tony Leon
Anthony James "Tony" Leon is a South African politician who served as leader of the opposition from 1999-2007 as leader of the Democratic Alliance. Although still a member of the DA, he currently serves as the South African Ambassador to Argentina under the ANC government.-Early life:Leon grew up...
, Harris was the party's national events manager during the 2009 general election campaign
South African general election, 2009
South Africa held national and provincial elections to elect a new National Assembly as well as the provincial legislature in each province on 22 April 2009....
, and was subsequently elected to Parliament aged 29, initially to the National Council of Provinces where he served as the Western Cape's Provincial Whip before being moved to the National Assembly in a Shadow Cabinet reshuffle.
Background
Harris was born in Cape TownCape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
, but grew up in KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal is a province of South Africa. Prior to 1994, the territory now known as KwaZulu-Natal was made up of the province of Natal and the homeland of KwaZulu....
, where he attended Hilton College. He moved back to Western Cape
Western Cape
The Western Cape is a province in the south west of South Africa. The capital is Cape Town. Prior to 1994, the region that now forms the Western Cape was part of the much larger Cape Province...
to complete an undergraduate Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Cape Town
University of Cape Town
The University of Cape Town is a public research university located in Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. UCT was founded in 1829 as the South African College, and is the oldest university in South Africa and the second oldest extant university in Africa.-History:The roots of...
, majoring in English Literature and Economics. He then completed an honours degree in economics. After briefly working at an investment bank in Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
, Harris returned to Cape Town to complete his Masters in Economics, and subsequently joined the Democratic Alliance as a parliamentary economics researcher. In 2005 he was appointed as Chief of Staff for Tony Leon.
In late 2007 and early 2008 he travelled with two friends up Africa's west coast on a the first surf trip between Cape Town and London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
by the west coast route - garnering international attention in the process. He told BBC News
BBC News
BBC News is the department of the British Broadcasting Corporation responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs. The department is the world's largest broadcast news organisation and generates about 120 hours of radio and television output each day, as well as online...
of the episode:
Upon returning to politics in 2009, he was appointed campaign events manager for the Democratic Alliance's 2009 election campaign, and was subsequently elected to the National Council of Provinces
National Council of Provinces
The National Council of Provinces is the upper house of the Parliament of South Africa under the constitution which came into full effect in 1997...
for the Western Cape
Western Cape
The Western Cape is a province in the south west of South Africa. The capital is Cape Town. Prior to 1994, the region that now forms the Western Cape was part of the much larger Cape Province...
.
Parliamentarian
He currently serves on the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry and previously served on the Select Committee on Finance, where he held the positions of Party Whip and Provincial Whip in the Council. He is also the party's International Liaison. In November 2009 he told Leader World magazine:On November 25, 2009, Harris brought to public attention a reply to a Democratic Alliance parliamentary question from Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan
Pravin Gordhan
Pravin Jamnadas Gordhan is a South African political figure, serving as Minister of Finance since May 2009. He was previously the Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service from 1999 to 2009. From 1991 and 1994, he chaired the Convention for a Democratic South Africa...
, which showed that more than R240-billion had been spent bailing out state owned entities between 2006 and 2009 by the ANC
African National Congress
The African National Congress is South Africa's governing Africanist political party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in April 1994. It defines itself as a...
government. He pointed out that the sum was sufficient "to build at least four large coal-fired power stations".