Gareth Morgan

Shadow Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs

Gareth Morgan, who hails from Durban, matriculated from Westville Boys' High School in 1994 and went on to complete a B. Com. and a Honours degree in political science at the University of Natal. He won the prestigious Rhodes scholarship which took him to Oxford University where he read for a PPE degree and an M. Sc. in Environmental Change and Management. While in his first term in parliament he became a Fellow of the Emerging Leaders' Programme run by the Southern Africa Centre for Leadership and Public Values.

Gareth joined the DP in 1995, and worked as a party activist while studying. In 1999, he was employed as the KZN Media Officer, before embarking on a brief stint as a high school teacher. On his return from Oxford, he was elected to the National Assembly on the DA's KZN list. His initial responsibilities were as Parliamentary Counsellor to the Leader of the Opposition, a position which he occupied for 14 months. Thereafter, he became the DA Spokesperson on Environmental Affairs - although, between July 2006 and June 2007, he served as the party's Heath spokesperson. Following the 2009 election he began his second term in Parliament. He is currently the Shadow Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs.

His legislative interests include climate change, water and energy. He is a member of the GLOBE Climate Dialogue, and has represented the South African parliament at six GLOBE meetings around the world.

Other parliamentary interests include the regulation of government advertising which resulted in him submitting a private member's proposal in September 2005 that sought to prohibit government advertising during election periods. For the last two years Gareth has asked more parliamentary questions to Ministers than any other MP in Parliament.

He is a facilitator in the DA Young Leaders' Programme and is passionate about developing the talents and leadership qualities of young DA members.

Gareth served as the Vice-Chair of the DA in KZN from 2006 to 2009. He was the DA MP for Abaqulusi constituency in northern KZN from 2004 to 2006 and for the South Durban constituency from 2006 to 2009. Both constituencies under his leadership won awards at DA KZN Provincial Congresses. He is currently the MP for West Durban, incorporating, among other areas, Westville, Pinetown, New Germany, Mariannhill, Kloof, Hillcrest, Molweni, Shongweni and Hammarsdale.

During constituency periods Gareth spends much of his time inspecting public institutions including schools, police stations and hospitals. He regularly donates indigenous trees to local schools and uses the opportunities to educate learners about climate change and how to offset their carbon emissions.

In his private time Gareth is a keen athlete. He has completed four Comrades Marathons, four Two Oceans Marathons and one Duzi Canoe Marathon.

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Parliamentary enquiries: 021 403 2910