Barbara Creecy

Barbara Dallas Creecy is a South African politician and previous anti-apartheid activist. A member of the African National Congress, she is currently serving as Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, and a Member of the National Assembly of South Africa. She previously served as a Member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, having been elected in 1994. In 2004, she was named Gauteng MEC for Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture. She served until 2009 when she was appointed MEC for Education. Newly-elected Premier David Makhura moved Creecy to the Gauteng Finance portfolio in 2014.

In May 2019, Creecy was sworn in as a Member of Parliament. On 29 May 2019, President Cyril Ramaphosa named her the new Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries.

Barbara Creecy was born in Johannesburg. She attended the University of Witwatersrand and obtained an Honours degree in Political Science. Later on, she completed a Master's degree in Public Policy and Management with the University of London.

Creecy was an anti-apartheid activist and worked in the underground structures of the African National Congress whilst a student at the Witwatersrand University. She worked for the Civic Desk of the United Democratic Front and soon joined an NGO that provided training and organisational development support to trade unions and community structures. She had previously been a member of the Provincial Executive Committee of the ANC.

Creecy was one of the longest-serving Members of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, having been elected in 1994. During her first two terms, she served as the Deputy Chief Whip as well as Chairperson of both the Social Development and Education Committees.

In 2004, Premier Mbhazima Shilowa appointed her as MEC for Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture. Paul Mashatile took over as Premier of Gauteng in 2008 and retained Creecy in her post.

In May 2009, Creecy moved to the Education portfolio and served in that post until May 2014, when Premier David Makhura selected her as the new Gauteng Finance MEC.

Following the May 2019 elections, Creecy took office as a Member of the National Assembly. The media speculated that she would be appointed to the National Finance Department, as either Minister or Deputy Minister. On 29 May 2019, President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed her to the post of Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries.