Growing up on the dusty streets of Ntseshe village in Ngqamakhwe as a staunch ANC follower and supporter, Veliswa Mvenya never imagined she would one day lead the official opposition party in the province.
Mvenya, 45, was elected as the Democratic Alliance’s provincial chairwoman at the weekend, beating colleague Edmund van Vuuren to the post.
Born in March 1969, Mvenya and her three siblings were raised by a single mother.
After completing her studies at Ntseshe Primary, she went on to study at Colosha Senior Secondary School where she passed matric.
The single mother of two obtained a teacher’s diploma and a diploma in public administration and began her teaching career in 1991 when she taught mathematics at Ntlahlane Junior Secondary School until 1993. From 1993 until 2004 – when she became DA MPL – Mvenya focusing mainly on teaching maths.
Her last post as a teacher before joining the legislature was with Klatom Junior Secondary School in Centane.
The school’s principal Mpendulo Ludwele said it was a huge loss to them when Mvenya left.
“When she left we lost a very key member of our staff. She was caring to the pupils and a motivation to fellow colleagues.
“We lost a very good maths teacher, that not only focused on academics but also helped pupils in anyway she could,” Ludwele said.
A former pupil of Mvenya’s, Ongama Jama, said she had been an inspiration to pupils.
“She was everything to me, she still is,” said Jama. “She helped me a lot and many other students.” .
Mvenya joined the DA in 2000 as an ordinary member.
“In 1994 I voted for the ANC, like everyone else, because their manifesto gave us hope of a brighter future,” she said. “We all had faith in the ANC that it will deliver its promises.”
But after the ANC’s first term in power, Mvenya believed the party was not delivering on what people had fought and voted for.
“During the 1999 elections I felt that I should give them another chance and I voted for the ANC again. But in 2000 I came to the realisation that nothing was going to change, so I decided to join the Democratic Party ,” she said, referring to the party’s name at the time.
It was renamed as Democratic Alliance after the merger of the New National Party (NNP) and Federal Alliance (FA).
“When I joined the DA I was not a politician, it was just my attempt to get up and do something about the situation of our communities.
“I wanted to take part in community development.”
From 2000 to 2004 she was a DA councillor and later become a legislature representative for the party.
Mvenya is also a former DA Women’s Network provincial and national chairwoman.
She said her recent election to the DA provincial chairwoman’s post would translate into more black votes from rural Eastern Capers while also luring additional support in the province’s two metros .— siphem@dispatch.co.za
New DA chair’s star keeps rising
Mvenya, 45, was elected as the Democratic Alliance’s provincial chairwoman at the weekend, beating colleague Edmund van Vuuren to the post.
Born in March 1969, Mvenya and her three siblings were raised by a single mother.
After completing her studies at Ntseshe Primary, she went on to study at Colosha Senior Secondary School where she passed matric.
The single mother of two obtained a teacher’s diploma and a diploma in public administration and began her teaching career in 1991 when she taught mathematics at Ntlahlane Junior Secondary School until 1993. From 1993 until 2004 – when she became DA MPL – Mvenya focusing mainly on teaching maths.
Her last post as a teacher before joining the legislature was with Klatom Junior Secondary School in Centane.
The school’s principal Mpendulo Ludwele said it was a huge loss to them when Mvenya left.
“When she left we lost a very key member of our staff. She was caring to the pupils and a motivation to fellow colleagues.
“We lost a very good maths teacher, that not only focused on academics but also helped pupils in anyway she could,” Ludwele said.
A former pupil of Mvenya’s, Ongama Jama, said she had been an inspiration to pupils.
“She was everything to me, she still is,” said Jama. “She helped me a lot and many other students.” .
Mvenya joined the DA in 2000 as an ordinary member.
“In 1994 I voted for the ANC, like everyone else, because their manifesto gave us hope of a brighter future,” she said. “We all had faith in the ANC that it will deliver its promises.”
But after the ANC’s first term in power, Mvenya believed the party was not delivering on what people had fought and voted for.
“During the 1999 elections I felt that I should give them another chance and I voted for the ANC again. But in 2000 I came to the realisation that nothing was going to change, so I decided to join the Democratic Party ,” she said, referring to the party’s name at the time.
It was renamed as Democratic Alliance after the merger of the New National Party (NNP) and Federal Alliance (FA).
“When I joined the DA I was not a politician, it was just my attempt to get up and do something about the situation of our communities.
“I wanted to take part in community development.”
From 2000 to 2004 she was a DA councillor and later become a legislature representative for the party.
Mvenya is also a former DA Women’s Network provincial and national chairwoman.
She said her recent election to the DA provincial chairwoman’s post would translate into more black votes from rural Eastern Capers while also luring additional support in the province’s two metros .— siphem@dispatch.co.za
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