James Masango
Quick Facts
Biography
James Masango is a South African politician, and a member of the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA). Masango is the provincial leader of the DA in Mpumalanga and a member of the provincial legislature (MPL). He was formerly a member of Parliament's National Assembly (MP), where he served as the Chairperson of Caucus.
He first became a DA MP in 2004.
Background
Masango’s vision for South Africa is of a non-racial and a fully fledged democratic country where all South Africans are equal and have an opportunity to explore whatever talent we have on a level field. Perseverance and staying focused on his objectives has made him what he is today and he is proud of his achievements.
Political career
Masango joind the then small Democratic Party in 1994. He was a ward councillor in the Govan Mbeki Municipality before being elected to Parliament for the renamed DA in 2004. Masango served on the Sport and Recreation and Housing portfolio committees, and was the Shadow Deputy Minister of Defense and Military Veterans. Masango was re-elected to Parliament in 2009 and was appointed as the Shadow Minister of Public Works. He was succeeded by Anchen Dreyer in 2012. He also served as Chairperson of the DA caucus. After a stint in the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature, he went back to the National Assembly in 2014, and served as the Deputy Shadow Minister of Public Works between 2014 and 2015.
Within the DA, he rose to the position of deputy provincial chairperson in 2000 and became Mpumalanga chairperson in 2004, a position he held for 11 years. Following the resignation of the previous provincial leader Anthony Benadie in 2015, Masango stood for the post and was elected uncontested as Provincial Leader of the DA in Mpumalanga.
Following his election as provincial leader, Masango opted to be returned to the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature, where he replaced Benadie as DA caucus leader and leader of the official opposition in the Legislature.