Francois Rodgers

Francois Rodgers
MPL
Member of the KwaZulu-Natal Executive Council for Finance
Incumbent
Assumed office
18 June 2024
PremierThami Ntuli
Preceded byPeggy Nkonyeni
Leader of the Democratic Alliance in KwaZulu-Natal
Incumbent
Assumed office
27 March 2021
DeputyChris Pappas
Sthembiso Ngema
Preceded byZwakele Mncwango
Member of the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature
Incumbent
Assumed office
21 May 2014
Member of the National Assembly of South Africa
In office
14 March 2013 – 6 May 2014
Provincial Chairperson of the Democratic Alliance
In office
3 February 2018[1] – 27 March 2021
DeputyHlengiwe Shozi
Craig Miller
Shehana Kajee[1]
Preceded byHaniff Hoosen
Succeeded byDean Macpherson
Deputy Provincial Leader of the Democratic Alliance
In office
17 March 2012[2] – 25 April 2015
LeaderSizwe Mchunu
Preceded bySizwe Mchunu
Succeeded byMergan Chetty
Personal details
Born
Francoise Adrianus Rodgers

(1961-09-10) 10 September 1961 (age 63)
NationalitySouth African
Political partyDemocratic Alliance

Francoise Adrianus Rodgers (born 10 September 1961), known as Francois Rodgers, is a South African politician from KwaZulu-Natal who has been the Member of the Executive Council for Finance since 2024 and the provincial leader of Democratic Alliance (DA) since 2021.

He is a Member of the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature and the leader of the DA's caucus.[3][4] He was previously the party's caucus chief whip. From 2013 to 2014, Rodgers was a Member of Parliament (MP) in the National Assembly.[5][6]

Rodgers started his political career as a DA councillor in Kokstad. He had served as the Deputy Provincial Leader of the DA from 2012 to 2015, before becoming the party's Provincial Chairperson in 2018. In 2021, he announced that he would be running to replace Zwakele Mncwango, who had announced intention to retire, as the Provincial Leader of the party. He was endorsed by Mncwango and seen as the front-runner.[7] He was elected provincial leader on 27 March 2021, defeating the DA's caucus leader in eThekwini, Nicole Graham, and her deputy, Emmanuel Mhlongo.[8]

In the 2024 provincial election, no party won a majority of seats in the provincial legislature. The DA formed part of a coalition with the Inkatha Freedom Party, the African National Congress, and the National Freedom Party which saw Rodgers appointed as the Member of the Executive Council for the Finance portfolio.[9]

  1. ^ a b Pillay, Kailene (4 February 2018). "WATCH: DA KZN re-elects Mncwango to lead". IOL. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  2. ^ "Sizwe Mchunu elected DA KZN leader". Politicsweb. 17 March 2012. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  3. ^ "DA's Rodgers steps up as caucus leader".
  4. ^ "DA in KZN announces caucus reshuffle". IOL - The Mercury. 21 June 2018. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  5. ^ Mlambo, Sihle (15 May 2019). "Focus on the DA: Is the party's KZN caucus diverse enough?". IOL. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  6. ^ Rodgers, Francois (22 May 2019). "New DA KZN Caucus team ready to add value to Legislature". DA KZN. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  7. ^ Harper, Paddy (19 March 2021). "Francois Rodgers tipped to win three-way battle for KZN DA leadership spot". Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  8. ^ Mtshali, Samkelo (27 March 2021). "Francois Rodgers named new DA provincial leader in KZN". IOL. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  9. ^ Ludidi, Velani (18 June 2024). "New KZN Premier Thami Ntuli announces cabinet". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 6 July 2024.