Thembinkosi Rawula
Thembinkosi Rawula | |
|---|---|
| Member of the National Assembly of South Africa | |
| In office 31 October 2015 – 10 April 2019 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Thembinkosi Rawula |
| Nationality | South African |
| Political party | ActionSA (2023–present) |
| Other political affiliations | Socialist Revolutionary Workers Party (2019–2023) Economic Freedom Fighters (Until 2019) |
| Alma mater | Nelson Mandela University University of Johannesburg University of South Africa |
| Profession | Politician |
Thembinkosi Rawula is a South African politician. He was a senior member of the Economic Freedom Fighters and a Member of Parliament for the party until he resigned in April 2019 after accusing party leaders of financial mismanagement.
Early life and education[edit]
Rawula is from the Eastern Cape. He holds a bachelor's degree in public administration from Nelson Mandela University, a post-graduate diploma in labour law from the University of Johannesburg and an honours degree in Public Administration from the University of South Africa.[1]
Career[edit]
He was the labour coordinator of the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) in the Eastern Cape between 2003 and 2006. From 2014 to 2015, he was employed as a human resource and capacity building advisor.[1]
Political career[edit]
Rawula served on the Central Command Team of the Economic Freedom Fighters as the member responsible for the party's labour and trade union relations. He was sworn in as a Member of the National Assembly for the party on 31 October 2015.[2] He replaced Kgotso Morapela, who was redeployed to the Free State Provincial Legislature.[1] During his tenure as a parliamentarian, he was a member of the following portfolio committees: tourism, mineral resources and labour.[2]
On 5 April 2019, Rawula accused party leader Julius Malema and his deputy Floyd Shivambu of abusing party funds to fund their lifestyles.[3] On 7 April, he said that Malema's lawyers had demanded that he retract the accusations.[4] On 10 April, Rawula resigned from the EFF and automatically ceased to be a member of parliament.[5] He then joined NUMSA's political party, the Socialist Revolutionary Workers Party, on 16 April.[6]
On 21 May 2019, Malema filed a defamation lawsuit against Rawula. The case was heard in November and the Eastern Cape division of the High Court ruled in favour of Rawula.[7]
On 9 October 2023, Rawula was announced as a member of ActionSA during a press conference held in Gqeberha.[8][9]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c "EFF welcomes new MP". Politicsweb. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
- ^ a b "Mr Thembinkosi Rawula". People's Assembly. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
- ^ Madisa, Kgothatso (5 April 2019). "EFF MP accuses Malema, Shivambu of using party millions to fund their lifestyles". SowetanLIVE. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
- ^ Cilliers, Charles (7 April 2019). "EFF MP Thembinkosi Rawula says Malema's lawyers have demanded retraction from him". The Citizen. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
- ^ Madisa, Kgothatso (10 April 2019). "EFF MP Thembinkosi Rawula resigns". SowetanLIVE. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
- ^ Tandwa, Lizeka (16 April 2019). "Former EFF member Rawula joins Numsa's new workers party". News24. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
- ^ Nyathi, Mandisa (12 November 2019). "Malema loses R1m defamation case against former EFF MP". News24. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
- ^ Madia, Tshidi. "ActionSA welcomes Thembinkosi Rawula in the Eastern Cape". ewn.co.za. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
- ^ "Former EFF MP Thembinkosi Rawula joins ActionSA". Jacaranda FM. Retrieved 9 October 2023.