Albert Fritz
Albert Fritz | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Interim Leader of the Democratic Alliance in the Western Cape | |
| Assumed office 21 May 2021 Acting: 16 April 2021 – 21 May 2021 | |
| Deputy | Tertuis Simmers (interim) |
| Preceded by | Bonginkosi Madikizela |
| Western Cape Provincial Minister of Community Safety | |
| Assumed office 23 May 2019 | |
| Premier | Alan Winde |
| Preceded by | Alan Winde |
| In office 13 September 2010 – 31 May 2011 | |
| Premier | Helen Zille |
| Preceded by | Lennit Max |
| Succeeded by | Dan Plato |
| Western Cape Provincial Minister of Social Development | |
| In office 1 June 2011 – 22 May 2019 | |
| Premier | Helen Zille |
| Preceded by | Patricia de Lille |
| Succeeded by | Sharna Fernandez |
| Deputy Provincial Leader of the Western Cape Democratic Alliance | |
| In office 7 October 2017 – 21 May 2021 | |
| Leader | Bonginkosi Madikizela |
| Preceded by | Bonginkosi Madikizela |
| Succeeded by | Tertuis Simmers (interim) |
| Member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament | |
| Assumed office 13 September 2010 | |
| Constituency | City of Cape Town |
| Member of the National Assembly | |
| In office 6 May 2009 – 10 September 2010 | |
| Constituency | Western Cape |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 July 1959 Woodstock, Cape Town, South Africa |
| Nationality | South African |
| Political party | Democratic Alliance (2008–present) |
| Other political affiliations | African National Congress (1990–2008) |
| Spouse(s) | Dianne Fritz |
| Children | 1 |
| Alma mater | University of Western Cape |
| Profession | Advocate Politician |
Albert Theo Fritz (born 1 July 1959) is a South African politician and advocate who has been the Western Cape Provincial Minister of Community Safety since 2019, previously from 2010 to 2011, and a Member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament since 2010. He is the current interim Leader of the Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Western Cape following the suspension and resignation of Bonginkosi Madikizela in April 2021. He served as the deputy DA provincial leader 2017 to 2021. Fritz previously served as the Western Cape Provincial Minister of Social Development from 2011 to 2019. From 2009 to 2010, he was a Member of the National Assembly and the Shadow Deputy Minister of Correctional Services.[1]
Early years and education[]
One of six children, Fritz was born in Woodstock, a suburb of Cape Town. He and his family later moved to District Six and were forcibly evicted in 1972 due to the Group Areas Act. They relocated to Hanover Park on the Cape Flats. He was expelled from Oaklands High School in 1976, because of his involvement in an anti-apartheid uprising. At the University of the Western Cape, he achieved a BA Honours degree in Social Science and also an LLB. He soon enrolled for a master's degree in Social Sciences from the same university.[2]
Anti-apartheid activities and early career[]
Fritz arranged several school boycotts during the 1970s and 1980s. He became involved in various movements such as the Hanover Park Youth Movement and the Hanover Park Civic Association. He was a member of the Cape Housing Action Committee.[3]
During the 1980s, he was appointed an organiser for the Media Workers' Association of South Africa. Fritz also joined the United Democratic Front. He joined the African National Congress's Strandfontein branch in 1990, but soon moved to the party's Milnerton branch in 1996. He was employed by the office of the Inspecting Judge in 1999. He was promoted to the post of Chief Judicial Inspector of Prisons in South Africa in 2002. In 2014, Fritz was admitted to the Western Cape High Court as an advocate.[4]
In 2008, Fritz announced that he was leaving the African National Congress. He subsequently joined the Democratic Alliance.[2]
Political career[]
On 6 May 2009, Fritz took office as a Member of the National Assembly. Shortly afterwards, the Democratic Alliance Parliamentary Leader Athol Trollip appointed Fritz to the position of Shadow Deputy Minister of Correctional Services, serving alongside James Selfe, who was reappointed as the Shadow Minister of Correctional Services.[5][6]
In September 2010, Premier Helen Zille announced that Provincial Minister Lennit Max and Fritz would exchange positions. Max would become a Member of the National Assembly and Shadow Minister, while Fritz would become Provincial Minister of Community Safety and a Member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament. Fritz left Parliament on 10 September 2010.[7]
Fritz took office as Provincial Minister of Community Safety on 13 September 2010. In May 2011, Zille appointed Fritz to the position of Provincial Minister of Social Development, succeeding Patricia de Lille.[8] Fritz took office on 1 June 2011. Dan Plato succeeded him as Provincial Minister of Community Safety.
On 7 October 2017, he was elected Deputy Provincial Leader of the Democratic Alliance, succeeding Bonginkosi Madikizela, at the party's provincial conference held at the Every Nation Church in Goodwood, Cape Town.[9]
In May 2019, Fritz was appointed Provincial Minister of Community Safety by newly elected Premier Alan Winde.[10][11] He was re-elected as deputy provincial leader in November 2020, defeating Tertuis Simmers.[12]
On 16 April 2021, Fritz was appointed acting DA leader in the Western Cape after Madikizela had "voluntarily stepped" aside as provincial leader for two weeks amid a qualifications scandal.[13] Madikizela resigned as provincial leader on 28 April.[14] On 21 May 2021, Fritz was elected as interim provincial leader unopposed after DA MPP Wendy Philander withdrew her candidacy.[15]
Personal life[]
He is married to Dianne Veldsman. They have one son named Charlton. Fritz refers to his mother, Theodora, as his "rock".[2]
On 27 November 2020, Fritz tested positive for COVID-19.[16]
References[]
- ^ Fritz, Albert (14 September 2010). First Day on the Job Takes Me Back to Where I Started (Speech). Cape Town. Retrieved 11 December 2010.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c On the safe side, Cape Times, 6 September 2010. Retrieved on 11 January 2019.
- ^ Ministry of Community Safety: Overview, Western Cape Government. Retrieved on 21 July 2019.
- ^ "MEC Albert Fritz on being admitted to Western Cape High Court as advocate". Government of South Africa. 19 February 2014. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
- ^ Mr Albert Theo Fritz, People's Assembly. Retrieved on 11 January 2019.
- ^ Zille, Helen, Trollip, Athol. DA shadow cabinet - full list of names, Politicsweb. Retrieved on 11 January 2019.
- ^ De Lille new W Cape minister, Cape Town, News24, 3 September 2010. Retrieved on 11 January 2019.
- ^ Zille announces new cabinet, IOL, 30 May 2011. Retrieved on 11 January 2019.
- ^ Announcement of DA Western Cape Provincial Leadership, Democratic Alliance, 7 October 2017. Retrieved on 11 January 2019.
- ^ Winde names new Western Cape cabinet Archived 2019-09-25 at the Wayback Machine, News24, 23 May 2019. Retrieved on 23 May 2019.
- ^ Western Cape swears in MEC Albert Fritz for Community Safety, South African Government. Retrieved on 25 May 2019.
- ^ Chothia, Andrea (21 November 2020). "DA announces provincial leadership election results". The South African. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
- ^ "MEC Albert Fritz steps in as acting DA leader in the Western Cape".
- ^ "Just in: Bonginkosi Madikizela resigns as DA provincial leader in WC". 28 April 2021.
- ^ "Albert Fritz named DA W Cape interim leader".
- ^ Singh, Kaveel (28 November 2020). "Western Cape MEC tests positive for Covid-19, says province is 'experiencing a resurgence'". News24. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
- Living people
- University of the Western Cape alumni
- Coloured South African people
- African National Congress politicians
- Democratic Alliance (South Africa) politicians
- Members of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament
- Members of the National Assembly of South Africa
- 1959 births