Samantha Jane Graham (born 27 May 1969) is a South African politician from the Eastern Cape who was elected to the National Assembly of South Africa in the 2019 general election and re-elected in the 2024 general election as a member of the Democratic Alliance. Graham has been the Deputy Minister of Electricity since 2024. Graham served as the shadow deputy minister of public works and infrastructure from 2019 to 2020 and as the shadow minister for the portfolio between 2020 and 2023, when she was named shadow minister of electricity. She is a former councillor of the Dr Beyers Naudé Local Municipality.
Samantha Graham | |
|---|---|
 Graham in 2024 | |
| Deputy Minister of Electricity | |
| Assumed office 30 June 2024 | |
| Minister | Kgosientsho Ramokgopa |
| Preceded by | Nobuhle Nkabane |
| Shadow Minister of Electricity | |
| In office 21 April 2023 – 14 June 2024 | |
| Leader | John Steenhuisen |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Shadow Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure | |
| In office 5 December 2020 – 21 April 2023 | |
| Deputy | Madeleine Hicklin |
| Leader | John Steenhuisen |
| Preceded by | Patricia Kopane |
| Succeeded by | Isaac Seitlholo |
| Shadow Deputy Minister of Public Works and infrastructure | |
| In office 5 June 2019 – 5 December 2020 | |
| Leader | John Steenhuisen Mmusi Maimane |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Madeleine Hicklin |
| Member of the National Assembly of South Africa | |
| Assumed office 22 May 2019 | |
| Constituency | Eastern Cape |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 27 May 1969 |
| Nationality | South African |
| Political party | Democratic Alliance (2007–present) |
| Spouse(s) |
Rodney Maré (m. 2019)Nikolas Jankovich (former) |
| Children | 2 |
| Residence | Aberdeen, Eastern Cape |
| Education | Rhenish Girls' High School |
| Alma mater | University of South Africa (LLB) |
| Occupation | Member of Parliament |
| Profession | Politician |
Early life and education
editSamantha Jane Graham was born on 27 May 1969. She matriculated from Rhenish Girls' High School in Stellenbosch in 1986.[1] In December 2021, Graham graduated cum laude from the University of South Africa with a Bachelor of Laws (LLB).[2]
Political career
editGraham became a member of the Democratic Alliance in 2007. Only in 2009, she became an active member of the party.[3] She then formed a branch in Aberdeen and got elected as the branch chairperson.[3]
For the May 2011 municipal elections, she stood as a DA ward councillor candidate, but narrowly lost to the African National Congress candidate. She was then appointed as a PR councillor.[4] Graham was selected as the DA's mayoral candidate for the newly established Dr Beyers Naudé Local Municipality ahead of the 2016 municipal elections.[5] The ANC narrowly retained control of the municipality and Graham was elected as a PR councillor.[6]
During her tenure on the Dr Beyers Naudé local council, she was the DA's caucus leader, the Portfolio Chairperson on Corporate Services and a member of the municipality's executive committee.[3] Graham is also a member of the DA's provincial council and the provincial disciplinary committee.[3]
Parliamentary career
editPrior to the 8 May 2019 general elections, Graham was placed 6th on the DA's regional list, 77th on its national list and 23rd on its provincial list.[7] She was elected to the National Assembly on the regional list.[8] She became a Member of Parliament on 22 May 2019.[9]
On 5 June 2019, the DA parliamentary leader, Mmusi Maimane, appointed her as shadow deputy minister of public works and infrastructure.[10] Shortly afterwards, she was appointed as the DA's constituency leader for the Dr Beyers Naude municipality.[11] Graham became a member of the Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure on 27 June 2019.[7]
Graham was appointed Shadow Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure in December 2020, succeeding Patricia Kopane.[12]
In February 2023, Graham was elected as one of three deputy provincial chairpersons of the DA.[13]
Graham was promoted to Shadow Minister of Electricity and an additional member of the Public Enterprises, Mineral Resources and Energy, and Public Service and Administration (The Presidency) portfolios during a shadow cabinet reshuffle on 21 April 2023.[14]
Graham was re-elected to the National Assembly in the 2024 general election.[15] She is currently serving as the Deputy Minister of Electricity and Energy. [16]
Personal life
editGraham was previously married to Nikolas Jankovich. They have two children from the marriage. She and her family moved from Cape Town to Aberdeen, Eastern Cape in December 2008. In October 2010, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She finished her chemotherapy 10 days before the May 18, 2011 local elections. Graham and her family moved to Graaff-Reinet in 2012. In July 2018, Graham was diagnosed with a recurrence of breast cancer. She then had a double mastectomy in August.[4]
She married Rodney Maré in May 2019.[9]
References
edit- ^ "Ms Samantha Jane Graham". Parliament of South Africa. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
- ^ "LLB cum laude - well done Sam". Graaff-Reinet Advertiser. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
- ^ a b c d "Ms Samantha Jane Graham (DA)". People's Assembly. 23 October 2019. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
- ^ a b Burger, Mariëtte (21 March 2019). "DA councillor off to parliament". Graaff-Reinet Advertiser. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
- ^ "Local election candidates announced". Graaff-Reinet Advertiser. 6 July 2016. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
- ^ "Your councillors for the next few years". Graaff-Reinet Advertiser. 15 August 2016. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
- ^ a b "Ms Samantha Jane Graham". People's Assembly. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
- ^ "SEE: These are the people who will represent you in Parliament, provincial legislatures". News24. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
- ^ a b Vermaak, Christo (30 May 2019). "Samantha Graham sworn in as Member of Parliament". Graaff-Reinet Advertiser. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
- ^ Gerber, Jan (5 June 2019). "Here's the DA's 'shadow cabinet'". News24. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
- ^ Smit, Paula-Ann (12 June 2019). "Local MP chosen for shadow cabinet". Graaff-Reinet Advertiser. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
- ^ "DA announces new Shadow Cabinet that will bring Real Hope and Real Change". Democratic Alliance. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
- ^ Felix, Jason. "Andrew Whitfield elected new Eastern Cape DA leader". News24. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
- ^ "Shadow Cabinet: DA announces changes with a focus on Election 2024". Democratic Alliance. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- ^ "The 400 MPs elected to the National Assembly - IEC - DOCUMENTS | Politicsweb". www.politicsweb.co.za. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
- ^ "Ramaphosa calls family meeting to announce GNU Cabinet". News24. Retrieved 30 June 2024.