Z. F. Mgcawu

Last updated

Zwelentlanga Fatman Mgcawu, commonly known as Fatman, was born and grew up in Pabalello, Upington, South Africa in 1958, becoming Upington's first black mayor in the first post-1994 local government elections. In 2013 the erstwhile Siyanda District Municipality in the Northern Cape, with Upington as its administrative centre, was renamed ZF Mgcawu District Municipality. [1] [2] Mgcawu died in July 2001 at age 43. [2]

Mgcawu is said to have been "a man with many talents." Attending the University of Cape Town, he emerged from the Drama Department with training as an actor. "He was a passionate actor and comedian," states the local government website following the Siyanda District's being renamed in his honour. "He dedicated his life to the fight against the apartheid system," reports the Kathu Gazette. [2]

In addition to his acting and political roles he is also recorded as having been active in a church role. He pursued poverty alleviation projects and was instrumental in the upgrading of the Upington Airport.

The process of renaming the Siyanda District in Mgcawu's honour began in 2010, being subsequently published in the Provincial Government Gazette on 22 October 2012, notice 14 of 2012; the then Siyanda District Council deciding on an implementation date of 1 July 2013. [2]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern Cape</span> Province in South Africa

The Northern Cape is the largest and most sparsely populated province of South Africa. It was created in 1994 when the Cape Province was split up. Its capital is Kimberley. It includes the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park, part of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and an international park shared with Botswana. It also includes the Augrabies Falls and the diamond mining regions in Kimberley and Alexander Bay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Upington</span> Town in Northern Cape, South Africa

Upington is a town founded in 1873 and located in the Northern Cape province of South Africa, on the banks of the Orange River. The town was originally called Olijvenhoutsdrift, due to the abundance of olive wood trees in the area, but later renamed after Sir Thomas Upington, Attorney-General and then Prime Minister of the Cape. It originated as a mission station established in 1871 and run by Reverend Christiaan Schröder. The mission station now houses the Kalahari Orange Museum. The museum is also the home of a donkey statue, which recognises the enormous contribution that this animal made to the development of the region during the pioneering days of the 19th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frances Baard District Municipality</span> District municipality in Northern Cape, South Africa

The Frances Baard District Municipality, previously the Diamantveld District Municipality, is one of the 5 districts of the Northern Cape province of South Africa. The seat of the municipality is Kimberley. As of 2011, the majority of its 324,814 residents speak Setswana. The district code is DC9.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Namakwa District Municipality</span> District municipality in Northern Cape, South Africa

The Namakwa District Municipality is one of the 5 districts of the Northern Cape province of South Africa. The seat of Namakwa is Springbok and the region is also known as Little Namaqualand. As of 2011, a majority of its 108,118 residents speak Afrikaans. The district code is DC6.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ZF Mgcawu District Municipality</span> District municipality in Northern Cape, South Africa

The ZF Mgcawu District Municipality, known before 1 July 2013 as the Siyanda District Municipality, is one of the 5 districts of the Northern Cape province of South Africa. The seat of the municipality is Upington. As of 2011, the majority (76%) of its 236,783 residents speak Afrikaans. The district code is DC8.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality</span> District municipality in Northern Cape, South Africa

The John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality, formerly the Kgalagadi District Municipality, is one of the five districts of the Northern Cape province of South Africa. The seat of the authority is Kuruman. As of 2011, the majority of its 176,899 residents speak Setswana. The district code is DC45.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Catholic Diocese of Keimoes–Upington</span> Roman Catholic diocese in South Africa

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Keimoes–Upington is a South African diocese located around the towns of Keimoes and Upington in the ecclesiastical province of Bloemfontein.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mier Local Municipality</span> Local municipality in Northern Cape, South Africa

Mier was a local municipality within the ZF Mgcawu District Municipality in the Northern Cape province of South Africa. Its area includes the South African portion of one of the world's largest conservation areas, the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. The main settlement in the municipality is the town of Rietfontein.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">//Khara Hais Local Municipality</span> Local municipality in Northern Cape, South Africa

//Khara Hais Local Municipality was a local municipality in the Northern Cape province of South Africa. It fell within the ZF Mgcawu District Municipality and governed the town of Upington and surrounding rural areas. As of 2011 the municipality had a population of approximately 93,500 people, and covered an area of 21,780 square kilometres (8,410 sq mi). The unusual spelling of the name comes from the original transcription of the Khwe language name, where the click consonant became "//".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kgatelopele Local Municipality</span> Local municipality in Northern Cape, South Africa

Kgatelopele Municipality is a local municipality within the ZF Mgcawu District Municipality, in the Northern Cape province of South Africa. Kgatelopele is a Setswana name meaning "progress".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tsantsabane Local Municipality</span> Local municipality in Northern Cape, South Africa

Tsantsabane Municipality is a local municipality within the ZF Mgcawu District Municipality, in the Northern Cape province of South Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kai ǃGarib Local Municipality</span> Local municipality in Northern Cape, South Africa

Kai ǃGarib Municipality is a local municipality within the ZF Mgcawu District Municipality, in the Northern Cape province of South Africa. The name Kai ǃGarib originates from the Khoekhoe language and means "big great river", referring to the Orange River that flows through the area.

Groblershoop is a settlement in ZF Mgcawu District Municipality in the Northern Cape province of South Africa. It is situated about 2 km west of the Orange River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Askham, South Africa</span> Place in Northern Cape, South Africa

Askham is a village in the Dawid Kruiper Local Municipality in the ZF Mgcawu District Municipality in the Northern Cape province of South Africa. Askham lies not far from the confluence of the mostly dry Molopo and Kuruman Rivers in the Red Kalahari Desert, about 200 km north of Upington at the junction of the R31 and the R360 roads.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dawid Kruiper Local Municipality</span> Local municipality in Northern Cape, South Africa

Dawid Kruiper Municipality is a local municipality within the ZF Mgcawu District Municipality, in the Northern Cape province of South Africa. It was established after the August 2016 local elections by merging the Mier and //Khara Hais local municipalities. The municipality is named after the San politician Dawid Kruiper.

Union's End is the most northwesterly point in South Africa and the northernmost point of the Northern Cape as well as of Dawid Kruiper Local Municipality and ZF Mgcawu District Municipality within this province. It is the point where the borders of South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana intersect.

Abraham Vosloo is a South African educator and politician from the Northern Cape serving as the Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Finance, Economic Development and Tourism since June 2020. He has been a Member of the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature since May 2019. He was the MEC for Roads and Public Works from May 2019 until June 2020. Vosloo was previously the Executive Mayor of the ZF Mgcawu District Municipality. He is a member of the African National Congress (ANC).

Gift van Staden is a South African politician who serves as a Member of the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature for the African National Congress (ANC). He was the provincial MEC for Social Development from 2016 to 2019. Prior to serving in the legislature, he was the Executive Mayor of both the ZF Mgcawu District Municipality and the Khara Hais Local Municipality. He is a former business associate of John Block.

Johannes Jacobus "Hannes" Combrinck was a South African politician, civil servant and farmer who represented the Northern Cape in the National Assembly from 2004 to 2009. He represented the African National Congress (ANC), which he joined in 1998 after becoming disillusioned with the National Party. He later served as Speaker of Dawid Kruiper Local Municipality from 2009 to 2011 and was still working in municipal administration in the Northern Cape when he died in 2020.

References

  1. Siyanda District Municipality changes its name to ZF Mgcawu District retrieved 24 August 2013
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Siyanda District Municipality Renamed". Kathu Gazette. Retrieved 25 August 2013.