MEC: Mxolisi Thomas Kaunda Department of Transport, Community Safety & Liaison

MEC Thomas Mxolisi Kaunda has a rich socio-political activism background. He has served in various leadership roles in both the ANC Youth League and Provincial structures. He matriculated at Intshisekelo High School in Inanda and went further to obtain a Diploma in Governance and Leadership from the University of South Africa, and an Advanced Diploma in Advanced Governance and Public Leadership from the University of the Witwatersrand. He has served as ANCYL Provincial Secretary (2004 to 2008), and as Provincial Chairperson (2008 to 2010). He was then elected to the ANC Provincial Executive Committee (ANC PEC) in 2012, and assigned the responsibility of serving in the Economic Transformation as well as Peace and Stability sub committees. In 2015, he was re-elected to the ANC PEC and serves as Chairperson of the Economic Transformation and Mobilisation sub-committees. He is also a member of the ANC Provincial Working Committee.

MEC Kaunda started out as an elected Ward Councillor (2000 to 2006) and as a Public Representative (PR) Councillor (2006 to 2009) in the eThekwini Metropolitan.  Within the municipality, he served in the Economic Development and Markets sub-committee. He was later redeployed to serve as a Member of the Provincial Legislature from 2009 to 2014, and became Chairperson of the Transport Portfolio Committee. During this time, he served on Finance, Community Safety and Liaison, as well as Co-Operative Governance and Traditional Affairs committees as an alternate member.

He returned to the Provincial Legislature post the 2014 national general elections to continue as Chairperson of the Transport Committee, and also serving on the Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, and Community Safety and Liaison committees.  During his tenure in the legislature, MEC Kaunda has steadfastly led oversight work on transport matters, and engaged with communities across the length and breadth of the province.