Gareth Morgan (South African politician)
Gareth Morgan | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Shadow Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs | |
| Assumed office 2007 | |
| Leader | Helen Zille |
| Preceded by | Rafeek Shah |
| Shadow Minister of Health | |
| In office 2006–2007 | |
| Leader | Tony Leon and Helen Zille |
| Preceded by | Dianne Kohler Barnard |
| Shadow Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism | |
| In office 2005–2006 | |
| Leader | Tony Leon |
| Preceded by | Mike Ellis |
| Counsellor to the Leader of the Opposition | |
| In office 2004–2005 | |
| Leader | Tony Leon |
| Member of Parliament for West Durban, KwaZulu-Natal in the National Assembly of South Africa | |
| Assumed office 6 May 2009 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 22 March 1977 |
| Nationality | South African |
| Political party | Democratic Alliance |
| Alma mater | University of Natal and Oxford University |
| Website | The Backbencher |
Gareth Morgan (born 22 March 1977) is a South African politician and a former member of parliament with the opposition Democratic Alliance. He is a former Rhodes Scholar at Oxford, and previously worked as South Africa's Shadow Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs.[1] He was South Africa's first carbon neutral Member of Parliament.[2] He resigned from office in January 2013 to pursue a career in consulting.[3]
Education
Morgan matriculated from Westville Boys' High School in 1994 and completed a B.Com and political science honours degree at the University of Natal. He joined the Democratic Alliance's predecessor, the Democratic Party, in 1995—as a student activist. In 1999 he became the party's media officer in KwaZulu-Natal.[1] After a brief stint as a high school teacher, Morgan read for a PPE degree and an M.Sc in Environmental Change and Management at Oxford—on a Rhodes Scholarship.[4]
Member of Parliament
Upon his return to South Africa, Morgan was elected to the National Assembly on the DA's KwaZulu-Natal list. He was initially appointed Parliamentary Counsellor to the Leader of the Opposition—a position he occupied for 14 months.[1] He subsequently was appointed spokesperson on Environmental Affairs. In July 2006 he became health spokesperson, before returning to the Environmental Affairs portfolio. Ahead of the 2009 General Elections he appeared second on the party's KwaZulu-Natal list and was re-elected.[1] He is currently Shadow Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs.[1]
Constituency
Morgan served as Democratic Alliance MP for the Abaqulusi constituency in northern KwaZulu-Natal between 2004 and 2006. Between 2006 and 2008 he served the South Durban constituency, and from 2009 to January 2013 he served as constituency MP for Durban West.[1]
Memberships
Morgan is a member of Globe International's G8+5 Climate Dialogue.[4]
He is also a fellow of the Emerging Leaders' Programme run by the Southern Africa Centre for Leadership and Public Values, and a member of the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry's environmental committee. He is also a facilitator of the DA's Young Leaders' Programme.[1]