John Moodey

John Clifford Moodey (born 22 November 1958) is a South African politician who served as the Provincial Leader of the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng from 2007 to 2010 and from 2012 until 2020. Moodey was a Member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature from 2004 to 2020 and served as Leader of the Opposition from 2014 to 2019. He was the DA's Shadow MEC for Community Safety.[2]

John Moodey
Leader of the Opposition in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature
In office
21 May 2014 – 22 May 2019
Preceded byJack Bloom
Succeeded bySolly Msimanga
Leader of the Democratic Alliance in Gauteng
In office
10 March 2012 – 2 September 2020
Preceded byJanet Semple
Succeeded bySolly Msimanga (acting)[1]
In office
12 March 2007 – 18 April 2010
Preceded byIan Davidson
Succeeded byJanet Semple
Member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature
In office
14 April 2004 – 2 September 2020
Personal details
Born
John Clifford Moodey

(1958-11-22) 22 November 1958
Doornfontein, Johannesburg, Transvaal Province
NationalitySouth African
Political partyDemocratic Alliance (2000–2020)
Other political
affiliations		Democratic Party (1998–2000)
ActionSA (2020-present)
ResidenceFlorida, Gauteng
OccupationMember of the Provincial Legislature
ProfessionPolitician

Early life

John Clifford Moodey was born on 22 November 1958 in Doornfontein, a suburb of Johannesburg. He and his family were later evicted and forced to move due to the Group Areas Act. He became an activist while he was still in school.[3]

Political career

Moodey was previously a trade unionist and served on the executive of the Combined Employers Union. He joined the Democratic Party in 1998, which became the Democratic Alliance in 2000. He was elected to the Johannesburg City Council in 2000 as the ward councillor for Florida. He became chairperson of the DA caucus in 2001 and soon deputy chairperson of the party in Gauteng South in 2002.[3][4]

He became Provincial Chairperson of the DA in 2004. In the same year, he was appointed a Member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature. He was elected Provincial Leader of the party in 2007, succeeding Ian Davidson to become the party's first black leader in Gauteng.[4] At the DA's October 2009 provincial conference, in a bid to secure re-election, Moodey's campaign sent out SMS's displaying false information.[5][6] The provincial conference was nullified and disciplinary steps were taken against Moodey.[7] A second provincial conference was promptly called for and held in April 2010, in which former DA MP Janet Semple defeated Moodey by just 8 votes.[8][9][10]

In January 2012, Semple announced her retirement as the provincial leader. Moodey declared his intention to contest the position at the party's conference in March. He was endorsed by Semple and DA Federal Youth Leader Makashule Gana.[11] Moodey defeated MP Ian Ollis.[12]

In November 2014, Moodey was re-elected for another term after he defeated MPL Refiloe Nt'sekhe.[13] He secured another term in November 2017 after he defeated Ghaleb Cachalia.[14][15][16]

In February 2020, Moodey announced that he would be retiring as provincial leader ahead of the party's upcoming provincial conference to be held later on in the year.[17][18] On 24 February 2020, he announced that he would run for DA Federal Leader at the party's Federal Congress, which was scheduled to be held in May.[19] The elective conference was postponed to October 2020 due to the coronavirus outbreak and Moodey temporarily suspended all campaign activities.[20][21]

On 2 September 2020, Moodey resigned from the Democratic Alliance, citing race and an internal disciplinary proceeding.[22] He joined Herman Mashaba's ActionSA in October.[23]

Personal life

Moodey is married to Barenice. They have children and grandchildren. They reside in Florida, Gauteng.[3]

References
  1. Maphanga, Canny (2 September 2020). "Solly Msimanga appointed as acting DA Gauteng provincial leader". News24. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  2. "Gauteng DA unveils the province's shadow MECs". IOL. 23 May 2019. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  3. "John Moodey Gauteng Provincial Leader, MPL". Democratic Alliance. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  4. "New Gauteng DA leader 'not there just to window dress'". Mail & Guardian. 12 March 2007. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  5. "Moodey to lead Gauteng DA again". IOL. 2 November 2009. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  6. "Moodey re-elected to lead Gauteng DA". Polity. 2 November 2009. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  7. Hlongwane, Sipho (9 March 2012). "DA Gauteng election: Ollis vs Moodey, the final 24". The Daily Maverick. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  8. Du Plessis, Carien (18 April 2010). "Charged DA leader voted out". IOL. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  9. Mataboge, Mmanaledi (23 April 2010). "DA divided over leaders". Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  10. "Moodey backs Semple as DA branch leader". IOL. 19 April 2010. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  11. Ndaba, Baldwin (8 March 2012). "Moodey tipped for Gauteng DA leader". IOL. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  12. Hlongwane, Sipho (11 March 2012). "DA elects John Moodey its new leader in Gauteng". The Daily Maverick. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  13. "Moodey re-elected to lead DA Gauteng". eNCA. 22 November 2014. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  14. "John Moodey re-elected DA Gauteng leader". IOL. 19 November 2017. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  15. Bendile, Dineo (18 November 2017). "John Moodey is re-elected as Gauteng DA leader". Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  16. Gallens, Mahlatse (22 September 2017). "'General' John Moodey ready to lead Gauteng DA in 'make or break' 2019 elections". News24. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  17. Madia, Tshidi (3 February 2020). "DA Gauteng chief makes big all-or-nothing play against Steenhuisen for top job". News24. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  18. "Moodey touts himself as man to change DA's fortunes, reverse vote losses". www.702.co.za. 6 February 2020. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  19. Madisa, Kgothatsa (24 February 2020). "Moodey puts himself forward as best candidate for DA leader". SowetanLIVE. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
  20. Mavuso, Sihle (16 March 2020). "ANC, DA postpone conferences amid coronavirus fears". IOL News. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  21. "Coronavirus: Ntuli, Moodey suspend campaigns for DA leader". The Citizen. 17 March 2020. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  22. Feketha, Siviwe (2 September 2020). "Moodey resigns from DA, laments party's 'defence of white interests'". IOL. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  23. Quintal, Genevieve (5 October 2020). "Former DA Gauteng leader John Moodey joins Mashaba's ActionSA". BusinessLIVE. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
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