Barbara Dallas Creecy (born 17 June 1958) is a South African politician and previous anti-apartheid activist. A member of the African National Congress, she is currently serving as Minister of Transport, and as a Member of the National Assembly of South Africa. She previously served as a Member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, having been elected in 1994. In 2004, she was named Gauteng MEC for Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture. She served until 2009 when she was appointed MEC for Education. Newly elected premier David Makhura moved Creecy to the Gauteng Finance portfolio in 2014.[2]
In May 2019, Creecy was sworn in as a Member of Parliament. On 29 May 2019, President Cyril Ramaphosa named her the new Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries.[3]
Early life and education
editCreecy is a native of Johannesburg. She attended the University of the Witwatersrand and obtained an Honours degree in Political Science. Later on, she completed a master's degree in Public Policy and Management with the University of London.[4]
Political career
editCreecy was an anti-apartheid activist and worked in the underground structures of the African National Congress whilst a student at the Witwatersrand University. She worked for the Civic Desk of the United Democratic Front and soon joined an NGO that provided training and organisational development support to trade unions and community structures. She had previously been a member of the Provincial Executive Committee of the ANC.[5]
Creecy was one of the longest-serving Members of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, having been elected in 1994. During her first two terms, she served as the Deputy Chief Whip as well as Chairperson of both the Social Development and Education Committees.[6]
In 2004, Premier Mbhazima Shilowa appointed Creecy as MEC for Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture. Paul Mashatile took over as Premier of Gauteng in 2008 and retained Creecy in her post.[7][8]
In May 2009, Creecy moved to the Education portfolio and served in that post until May 2014, when Premier David Makhura selected her as the new Gauteng Finance MEC.[9][10]
Following the May 2019 elections, Creecy took office as a Member of the National Assembly. The media speculated that she would be appointed to the National Finance Department, as either Minister or Deputy Minister.
Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries
editOn 29 May 2019, President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed Creecy to the post of Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries.[11][12][13][14][15]
In November 2020, Creecy vetoed an amendment to the existing Meat Safety Act (MSA), which would have allowed the commercial sale of lion meat in South Africa.[16]
In February 2022, Creecy announced that the trophy hunting quota for 2022 had been set for 10 black rhinos, 10 leopards and 150 elephants.[17]
On 18 March 2022, the Pretoria High Court gave Creecy one year in which to implement the Highveld Priority Area Air Quality Management Plan that was drawn up by the government nearly a decade ago to improve air quality in South Africa's "coal belt" in Gauteng and Mpumalanga.[18][19][20]
Creecy, along with Dan Jørgensen, led the working group at the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference that facilitated consultations on mitigation.[21]
Other activities
edit- P4G – Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030, Member of the Board of Directors (since 2019)[22]
References
edit- ^ "Historic day for SA as government of national unity ministers take oath of office". Daily Maverick. 3 July 2024. Archived from the original on 3 July 2024. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ Ms Barbara Creecy MEC FOR FINANCE, Gauteng Digital Platform. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
- ^ IN FULL | Cyril Ramaphosa's new cabinet, in his own words, TimesLIVE, 29 May 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
- ^ Barbara Creecy, Ms, South African Government. Retrieved on 28 July 2019.
- ^ Barbara Creecy MEC for Finance Gauteng Provincial Treasury Archived 30 May 2019 at the Wayback Machine, Smart Procurement World. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
- ^ Baldwin, Ndaba (4 June 2019). "SACP lauds Gauteng's 'first African woman' finance MEC". Gauteng: IOL. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
- ^ Grobler, Fienie (7 October 2008). "Mashatile elected to lead Gauteng". Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
- ^ Rossouw, Mandy (4 October 2008). "Which way will he swing?". Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
- ^ Gauteng's new MECs announced, SA News, 8 May 2009. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
- ^ The new Gauteng cabinet – David Makhura. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
- ^ Haffajee, Ferial (8 October 2018). "ANALYSIS: Who could replace Nene? Get to know Barbara Creecy and Mondli Gungubele". Fin24. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
- ^ Bets for the new cabinet, BusinesLIVE, 16 May 2019. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
- ^ "Cabinet announcement expected on Wednesday evening, Presidency confirms". Mail & Guardian. 29 May 2019. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
- ^ Ramaphosa announces cabinet: Mabuza, Gordhan, Mboweni – and De Lille, TimesLIVE, 29 May 2019. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
- ^ From Patricia to Pandor – Here is Ramaphosa's new (smaller) Cabinet, News24, 29 May 2019. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
- ^ "Proposal to allow 'the sale of lion meat in SA' blocked by minister". The South African. 20 November 2020. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
- ^ OFM. "Quotas for trophy hunting in 2022 confirmed". OFM. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
- ^ "Court orders government to clean up air in coal belt". BusinessLIVE. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
- ^ "Court gives Environment Minister a year to enforce clean air plan". SABC News - Breaking news, special reports, world, business, sport coverage of all South African current events. Africa's news leader. 20 March 2022. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
- ^ "Court rules air quality at country's coal belts breaches constitutional rights". Jacaranda FM. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
- ^ Letter to Parties and Observers, 16 November 2022 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
- ^ Board of Directors P4G – Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030.