Tertuis Simmers

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Tertuis Simmers
MPP
Western Cape Provincial Minister of Human Settlements
Assumed office
23 May 2019
PremierAlan Winde
Preceded byBonginkosi Madikizela
Acting Western Cape Provincial Minister of Transport and Public Works
In office
28 April 2021 – 24 May 2021
PremierAlan Winde
Preceded byBonginkosi Madikizela
Succeeded byDaylin Mitchell
Member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament
Assumed office
12 June 2017
Interim Deputy Leader of the Democratic Alliance in the Western Cape
Assumed office
21 August 2021
LeaderAlbert Fritz (interim)
Preceded byAlbert Fritz
Personal details
Born (1983-03-23) 23 March 1983 (age 38)
Nelspruit, South Africa
NationalitySouth African
Political partyDemocratic Alliance
Spouse(s)Monique Simmers
OccupationPolitician

Tertuis Alfred Simmers (born 23 March 1983) is a South African politician who has been serving as the Western Cape Provincial Minister of Human Settlements since May 2019. He has been a Member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament since 2017. Simmers is a member of the Democratic Alliance.[1]

On 21 August 2021, he was elected as the DA's interim deputy leader in the Western Cape.

Family and personal life[]

Simmers was born in Nelspruit on 23 March 1983. He is married to Monique Simmers. They have four children together. He qualified as a Skills Development Facilitator in 2015.[2]

Political career[]

Before being sworn in as a Member of the Provincial Parliament, Simmers was involved in the politics of the Eden District Municipality, from 2011 to 2017. He was the municipality's speaker and a member of the mayoral committee. He also held leadership positions in the George Local Municipality.[3]

Additionally, he served on the Western Cape Bargaining Council Division of the South African Local Government Association.[2]

Simmers was sworn in as a Member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament on 12 June 2017.[2] Following the Democratic Alliance's victory in the Western Cape in May 2019, Simmers was appointed as the Provincial Minister of Human Settlements by newly elected premier Alan Winde.[4][5][6]

On 7 November 2020, Simmers was elected unopposed as chairperson of the DA's east region in the Western Cape. He took over from Jaco Londt, who stood down.[7] Simmers was a candidate for DA deputy provincial leader,[8] but lost to incumbent Albert Fritz on 21 November.[9]

On 15 April 2021, Simmers was appointed as acting Provincial Minister of Transport and Public Works following the suspension of Bonginkosi Madikizela after he was caught falsifying information on his CV.[10] Madikizela soon resigned from the provincial government on 28 April. Simmers continued to serve as acting Provincial Minister until Daylin Mitchell was appointed as the Provincial Minister of Transport and Public Works on 25 May.[11]

On 21 August 2021, Simmers was elected as the interim deputy provincial leader of the Democratic Alliance in the Western Cape defeating his only opponent for the position, Breede Valley Mayor . His election came after the role of deputy leader was left vacant when incumbent Albert Fritz resigned after his election as interim provincial leader following Madikizela's resignation. At the age of 38, he is the youngest ever deputy provincial leader of the party in the Western Cape. Former deputy provincial leaders include Fritz, Madikizela and DA stalwart Theuns Botha.[12][13]

References[]

  1. ^ Tertuis Simmers. Retrieved on 27 March 2019.
  2. ^ a b c Ministry of Human Settlements: Overview. Retrieved on 27 May 2019.
  3. ^ New Speaker for Eden. Retrieved on 27 May 2019.
  4. ^ Winde names new Western Cape cabinet. Retrieved on 27 May 2019.
  5. ^ Western Cape Premier Alan Winde announces new Cabinet. Retrieved on 27 May 2019.
  6. ^ Western Cape premier Alan Winde's cabinet a mix of old and new. Retrieved on 27 May 2019.
  7. ^ Gunning, Eugene (7 November 2020). "Tertuis die nuwe leier". George Herald. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  8. ^ Felix, Jason (19 November 2020). "DA Western Cape congress: Debate denied on alleged assassination plot involving two frontrunners". News24. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  9. ^ https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/da-provincial-congress-leadership-election-results/[bare URL]
  10. ^ https://ewn.co.za/2021/04/15/wc-premier-winde-suspends-mec-madikizela-over-cv-qualification-claim
  11. ^ https://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2021-05-24-daylin-mitchell-is-the-new-western-cape-transport-and-public-works-mec/[bare URL]
  12. ^ Lepule, Tshego (21 August 2021). "Tertius Simmers elected new DA deputy leader". IOL. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  13. ^ Meyer, Warda (21 August 2021). "Tertius Simmers elected interim deputy leader of the DA in the Western Cape". News24. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
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