Phumzile van Damme
South African Consultant / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Phumzile Van Damme (born 20 July 1983) is a South African consultant and former Member of Parliament representing South Africa’s official opposition, the Democratic Alliance described by the United Nation’s Africa Renewal as a “Young MP with a mission.”[1] She was first elected at the 2014 South African general election and re-elected in 2019. She served as a Whip in the National Assembly and was the Shadow Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Committee.[2]
Phumzile Van Damme | |
---|---|
Member of the National Assembly | |
In office 21 May 2014 – 20 May 2021 | |
National Assembly Whip | |
In office 30 May 2019 – 20 May 2021 | |
Shadow Minister of Communications | |
In office 3 October 2015 – 5 December 2020 | |
Preceded by | Gavin Davis |
Succeeded by | Zakhele Mbhele |
National Spokesperson of the Democratic Alliance | |
In office 6 May 2014 – 14 February 2018 | |
Preceded by | Mmusi Maimane |
Personal details | |
Born | (1983-07-20) 20 July 1983 (age 40) Manzini, Swaziland |
Nationality | South African |
Political party | Democratic Alliance (2009–2021) |
Relations | Qiniso Van Damme[clarification needed] |
Alma mater | Rhodes University |
Occupation | Consultant |
On 20 May 2021, Van Damme resigned as a MP. She later revealed that she had resigned because the party had told her to stop criticising Facebook. “I could not do that and compromise my values so I resigned,” tweeted Van Damme.[3]
Van Damme works as an independent consultant on anti-misinformation and communications strategy and digital rights advocacy. In September 2021, she founded and coordinated South Africa’s first electoral disinformation monitoring and combatting project.[4][5]