O. J. Tselapedi
O. J. Tselapedi | |
|---|---|
| Member of the North West Executive Council for Education | |
| In office 30 April 2004 – 25 November 2010 | |
| Premier | |
| Succeeded by | Raymond Elisha |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Oabetswe Johannes Tselapedi 28 January 1956 |
| Died | 8 June 2021 (aged 65) |
| Citizenship | South Africa |
| Political party | African National Congress |
Oabetswe Johannes Tselapedi (28 January 1956 – 6 June 2021) was a South African politician who served in the North West Provincial Legislature. He was the second Speaker of the North West Provincial Legislature from 1999 to 2004 and then was the North West's Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Education from April 2004 until November 2010, when he was fired by newly elected Premier Thandi Modise.
Tselapedi was a member of the African National Congress (ANC) and served as the party's Deputy Provincial Chairperson in the North West from 1996 to 1998. He was serving as a local councillor in Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality at the time of his death in 2021.
Early life
[edit]Tselapedi was born on 28 January 1956.[1]
Legislative career
[edit]After South Africa's first post-apartheid elections in 1994, Tselapedi represented the ANC in the North West Provincial Legislature and also served in the North West Executive Council under Premier Popo Molefe.[2][3] In addition, from 1996 to 1998, he deputised Molefe as Deputy Provincial Chairperson of the ANC in the North West; he unsuccessfully challenged Molefe for the chairmanship in 1998.[4][5] Tselapedi, unlike Molefe, was viewed as a political supporter of Deputy President Thabo Mbeki.[6]
Pursuant the 1999 general election, Tselapedi was re-elected to his legislative seat and was elected as Speaker of the North West Provincial Legislature.[7] He served in that office until after the 2004 general election, when newly elected Premier Edna Molewa returned him to the Executive Council as Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Education.[8] The Mail & Guardian said that he was highly regarded for his management skills in that role,[9] and Molewa's successor, Maureen Modiselle, retained him in the portfolio after the 2009 general election.[10] However, in November 2010, Modiselle was forced to resign, and, on 25 November, newly elected Premier Thandi Modise fired Tselapedi and four others from the Executive Council, replacing Tselapedi with Raymond Elisha.[11]
Later career
[edit]In December 2011, the Sowetan reported that, since his dismissal by Modise, Tselapedi had been "quietly running his chicken farm far away from the limelight".[12] In the same month, he was arrested by the Hawks and charged with corruption, fraud, and money laundering in connection with alleged procurement irregularities during his tenure as Education MEC.[13][14] He denied the allegations.[13]
In 2018, after North West Premier Supra Mahumapelo was compelled to resign, media reported that Tselapedi was considered a possible contender to replace him and that he had Mahumapelo's support.[15] Tselapedi was not serving in the provincial legislature at that time, but City Press reported that the ANC had made preparations for his swearing in, including by amending its party list.[15] The ANC's Provincial Executive Committee reportedly nominated Tselapedi as one of its three shortlisted candidates – alongside Sussana Dantjie and Manketsi Tlhape – but the National Executive Committee rejected its recommendation and asked for a new shortlist.[16]
At the time of his death, he represented the ANC as a local councillor in the Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality.[2][17]
Personal life
[edit]Tselapedi was also a clergyman.[17] He was married and had six children and three grandchildren.[17]
He died on 6 June 2021 following a short illness[18][19] and was buried in Mmabatho.[17]
References
[edit]- ^ "General Notice: Notice 1319 of 1999 – Electoral Commission: Representatives Elected to the Various Legislatures" (PDF). Government Gazette of South Africa. Vol. 408, no. 20203. Pretoria, South Africa: Government of South Africa. 11 June 1999. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
- ^ a b "ANC mourns the passing of Rev OJ Tselapedi". ANC Eastern Cape. 7 June 2021. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
- ^ Turner, B. (17 December 2016). The Statesman's Yearbook 1998-99. Palgrave Macmillan UK. p. 1282. ISBN 978-0-230-27127-2.
- ^ "ANC rivals square up in North West". Business Day. 5 August 1998. Retrieved 28 November 2022 – via AllAfrica.
- ^ Mapulane, Philly (12 May 2018). "Open letter to Supra: 'Face your demons and do the honourable thing'". City Press. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
- ^ "Molefe on the skids". The Mail & Guardian. 5 June 2002. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
- ^ "Premiers sworn in but ANC members in W Cape walk out". Sowetan. allAfrica. 16 June 1999. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
- ^ "Molewa: Appointment of North West Executive Council members". Polity. 30 April 2004. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
- ^ "Who's who in education in the provinces". The Mail & Guardian. 4 June 2009. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
- ^ "North West premier Modiselle announces her cabinet". The Mail & Guardian. 8 May 2009. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
- ^ "North West premier reshuffles provincial cabinet". The Mail & Guardian. 25 November 2010. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
- ^ "Fall of the mighty OJ Tselapedi". Sowetan. 23 December 2011. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
- ^ a b "I am clean, says MEC who faces charges over fraud". Sowetan. 23 December 2011. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
- ^ "Education dept official wanted for R13m fraud". eNCA. 11 October 2013. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
- ^ a b Stone, Setumo (11 May 2018). "OJ Tselapedi almost became North West premier". City Press. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
- ^ "ANC turns down list of Supra acolytes for premier post". The Mail & Guardian. 15 June 2018. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
- ^ a b c d Sefularo, Masechaba (11 June 2021). "Former NW Education MEC Oabetswe 'OJ' Tselapedi laid to rest". EWN. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
- ^ "Former North West education MEC OJ Tselapedi dies". IOL. 8 June 2021. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
- ^ "ANC veteran Reverend OJ Tselapedi has passed away". SABC News. 6 June 2021. Retrieved 1 April 2023.