BIOGRAPHY OF THE

HON. MEC FRANS PHENYE VILAKAZI

 

Mr Frans Phenye Robert Vilakazi was born of a 'Swati Worrior - Velaphi' and a 'Motswana Woman - Thateng nee Phiri' on May 13th 1965 in the cold winter of Africa at Lady Selborne Holy Cross, a habitat around which his family was forcibly removed from two years earlier under the Land Tenure and Group Areas Acts of apartheid rule. Strangely, he was registered at Uitvalgrond, now called Ga-rankuwa where his family had settled.

The fourth of the seven children in the family, he holds the center stage, flanked by three on each side - all of them ably crafted in true African culture and its rich traditions to respect, to honour and to share. This has brought out the best in the African value system to which he owes his being. The dusty streets in which he toiled and the community he grew up to serve shaped not only his thinking but also his desire to see a free country where all people would be equal before the law.

As a part time taxi driver cum operator, he got exposed to more hardships in the hands of the apartheid 'law enforcement' agencies. Equally, he learned about the intrinsic control of taxi routes and associations by taxi bosses who were never to be questioned. He watched with sadness as the taxi industry slide into violence and conflict - an industry that clothed, fed and provided shelter not only to his family, but to many more families who depended on it for a decent livelihood. Furthermore, free life skills were taught at taxi ranks in informal discussions amongst the long serving drivers and new comers.

Throughout his schooling, all undertaken in the Ga-rankuwa, Mmakau, Mamelodi and Mmametlhake townships and villages, his consciousness regarding matters politico remained unanswered until he paid a visit to a library in the early 1980s. That's when his public speaking interest emerged as he took active part in school debates, always assigned to deal with politics in topics under discussion. He acquired his Std 10 certificate in 1986 and proceeded to improve it in 1989. He then enrolled for a Diesel Mechanics and later Public Admin Diploma Course both of which he did not complete.

It is during these years - mid to late 1980s - that he started active political life joining the powerful South African Youth Congress (SAYCO), led by the late Peter Mokaba. SAYCO was later transformed into the mighty African National Congress Youth League. He also took active role in civic politics, and was later elected as General Secretary of the Central Transvaal Civic Association, which was led by Fr. Smangaliso Mkhatshwa (former Executive Mayor of Tshwane Metropolitan Council) in the early 1990s.

After the first democratic elections of 27th April 1994, the African National Congress deployed him to the North West Provincial Legislature and former Premier Popo S. Molefe appointed him to the Transport and Civil Aviation Portfolio as the Executing Authority – MEC - which he served until 1999 elections. After the 2nd democratic election of 2nd June 1999, he was again deployed to the North West Legislature and appointed to the portfolio of Transport, Roads and Public Works which position he held until 2001 where after he was appointed to the portfolio of Transport until 30th April 2004. He is currently the Executing Authority – MEC for Department of Developmental Local Government and Housing in the North West Province.

He is married to Shirley and had five children – four girls and a son. One of the daughters passed away in 2006.