Leon Basson
MP
Basson in 2019
Shadow Minister of Water & Sanitation
Assumed office
5 December 2020
LeaderJohn Steenhuisen
Preceded byPosition established
Leader of the Democratic Alliance in the North West
Assumed office
21 November 2020
DeputyCornel Dryer
Freddy Sonakile
Preceded byJoe McGluwa
Deputy Leader of the Democratic Alliance in the North West
In office
2017 – 21 November 2020
LeaderJoe McGluwa
Preceded byPetro Nel
Succeeded byFreddy Sonakile
Shadow Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation
In office
5 June 2019 – 5 December 2020
LeaderJohn Steenhuisen
Mmusi Maimane
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byPosition split
Shadow Minister of Water and Sanitation
In office
1 July 2017 – 5 June 2019
LeaderMmusi Maimane
Preceded byHeinrich Volmink
Succeeded byPosition abolished
Shadow Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation
In office
5 June 2014 – 1 July 2017
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byTarnia Baker
Member of the National Assembly of South Africa
Assumed office
21 May 2014
Personal details
Born
Leonard Jones Basson

(1960-04-08) 8 April 1960
NationalitySouth African
Political partyDemocratic Alliance
SpouseDaleen
Children3
ResidenceBrits, North West

Leonard Jones Basson (born 8 April 1960) is a South African politician, a Member of Parliament (MP) for the Democratic Alliance and the DA's provincial leader in the North West. Before being elected unopposed to this position on 21 November 2020, Basson had served as the deputy provincial leader from 2017 to 2020. He has held various posts in the Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet of South Africa. He served as the Shadow Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation between 2014 and 2017, as the Shadow Minister of Water and Sanitation from 2017 to 2019, and as the Shadow Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation from 2019 to 2020. Basson has been the Shadow Minister of Water & Sanitation since 2020.

Background

Basson has been a resident of Brits in the North West since 1976. He is married to Daleen, and they have three children and six grandchildren.[1] Basson served on the governing body of Pansdrif Primary School for 10 years and was the chairperson for six years.[1] He was also a member of the governing body of Hoërskool Brits for 12 years, serving as the chairperson for nine years.[1]

Political career

Basson is a member of the Democratic Alliance (formerly the Democratic Party). In 1995, he was elected as a councillor for Madibeng.[1] He remained a councillor until his election to the National Assembly in the 2014 general election. The DA parliamentary leader, Mmusi Maimane, appointed him as Shadow Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation.[2] He was promoted to Shadow Minister of Water and Sanitation in 2017.[3] Also in 2017, Basson was elected as the deputy leader of the DA in the North West.[1] He is also the DA's constituency head of Madibeng.[1]

He was re-elected to Parliament in May 2019. Maimane then appointed him as Shadow Minister for the newly created Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation portfolio.[4][5]

On 21 November 2020, Basson was elected unopposed as the DA's provincial leader in the North West, succeeding Joe McGluwa, who stood down.[6][7][8] In the following days, he was appointed as Shadow Minister of Water and Sanitation by John Steenhuisen.[9]

In April 2021, Basson opposed the deployment of 24 Cuban engineers to assist the Department of Water and Sanitation in addressing South Africa's water crisis and called on Minister Lindiwe Sisulu to reverse the deployment and to rather employ South African engineers.[10]

Following the suspension of former premier Supra Mahumapelo's ANC membership in late-April 2021, Basson said that "the suspension comes more than ten years too late" and that the North West Province "would have been in a better position today if Supra Mahumapelo never happened."[11][12]

Basson was re-elected for a second term as provincial leader at the DA's provincial conference on 29 July 2023.[13]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Leon Basson North West Provincial Leader". Democratic Alliance. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  2. ↑ Maimane, Mmusi (5 June 2014). "The DA's shadow cabinet - Mmusi Maimane". Politicsweb. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  3. ↑ "Changes to DA Shadow Cabinet". Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  4. ↑ "SEE: These are the people who will represent you in Parliament, provincial legislatures". News24. 15 May 2019. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  5. ↑ Gerber, Jan (5 June 2019). "Here's the DA's 'shadow cabinet'". News24. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  6. ↑ Morapela, Katleho (21 November 2020). "NW to elect new DA leader". OFM. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  7. ↑ Chothia, Andrea (21 November 2020). "DA announces provincial leadership election results". The South African. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  8. ↑ "Local resident the new DA leader in North West". Komorant. 27 November 2020. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  9. ↑ Mazzone, Natasha (5 December 2020). "DA announces new Shadow Cabinet that will bring Real Hope and Real Change". Democratic Alliance. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  10. ↑ Meyer, Dan (28 April 2021). "Cuban engineers latest: 'Send specialists home, hire SA professionals – DA". The South African. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  11. ↑ Basson, Leon (29 April 2021). "Supra's ANC membership suspension 10 years too late – Leon Basson". Politicsweb. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  12. ↑ Solomons, Tarryn-Leigh (29 April 2021). "Supra Mahumapelo suspension's 10 years too late - DA". IOL. Cape Town. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  13. ↑ "DA hopes elected North West leadership will help win votes". SABC News. 29 July 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
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