Mike Waters (politician)
Mike Waters | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Opposition Deputy Chief Whip in the National Assembly | |
| Assumed office 2014 | |
| Leader | Helen Zille, Mmusi Maimane |
| Preceded by | Sandy Kalyan |
| Shadow Minister of Social Development | |
| In office 2012–2014 | |
| Preceded by | Patricia Kopane |
| Succeeded by | Patricia Kopane |
| Shadow Minister of Health | |
| Succeeded by | Patricia Kopane |
| Member of Parliament for Kempton Park & Edenvale, Gauteng | |
| In office May 1999 – 2019 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 30 June 1967 Middlesbrough, United Kingdom |
| Nationality | South African |
| Political party | Democratic Alliance |
| Alma mater | Technikon Witwatersrand |
Mike Waters (born 30 June 1967) is a South African politician, and Member of Parliament for the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA), where he served as the Opposition's Deputy Chief Whip from 2014-2019.[1] He has served as the Shadow Minister of Health [2] and as the Shadow Minister of Social Development.
Early life
Mike Waters attended Bedfordview High School before attaining a diploma in Human Resources from Technikon Witwatersrand. He joined the Democratic Party in 1989, and became president of the DP National Youth in 1994.[3]
Political career
Waters began his professional political career on the Kempton Park town council, winning a landmark by-election against the National Party in 1997. He was elected to Parliament in 1999, and subsequently was appointed DA spokesperson on Child Abuse. In 2004 he became Social Development spokesperson.[3] He succeeded Gareth Morgan as Shadow Health Minister in 2006, a position he held until 2012.
Policy issues
AIDS policy
Waters has been a vocal critic of the African National Congress's health policies, particularly those of controversial former health minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang.
Child abuse
As the DA's spokesperson on child abuse, Waters visited all 45 child protection units in South Africa during 2002. The following year he visited all 48 sexual offences units.[3] He was vocally critical of the ruling ANC's decision to disband the amalgamated Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences units in 2006.[4]
National Health Insurance
Waters has publicly criticised the ANC's proposed national health insurance scheme. He has labeled the plan anti-poor and irresponsible:
As always, the poor will be hardest hit, because the NHI does nothing to address the crisis in public health care. That crisis has been caused by a shortage of nurses and doctors, inadequate facilities and resources, and weak management systems. The poor bear the brunt of it. The NHI is not pro-poor. In fact it is anti-poor. It is a sure-fire recipe for the destruction of public health care.[5]
References
- ^ "National List MPs" (PDF).
- ^ "DA shadow cabinet - full list of names".
- ^ a b c "Mr Mike Waters". Archived from the original on 2007-11-12.
- ^ "DA slams closure of SAPS units".[permanent dead link]
- ^ "NHI will do nothing to improve dire state of hospitals - DA". Archived from the original on 2013-04-22.