Xiaomei Havard

Xiaomei Havard (Chinese: 小梅哈佛; pinyin: Xiǎoméi hāfó) is a Chinese-born South African businesswoman and politician from Gauteng who currently serves as a Member of Parliament for the African National Congress.

Xiaomei Havard
Chinese: 小梅哈佛
Member of the National Assembly of South Africa
Assumed office
27 January 2021
Preceded byJackson Mthembu
Personal details
BornHenan, China
NationalitySouth African
Political partyAfrican National Congress
ResidenceCape Town
EducationUniversity of Johannesburg (PhD)
Alma materUniversity of Johannesburg
OccupationMember of Parliament

Biography

Havard is from Henan, China.[1] She moved to Gauteng to study and later became a naturalized citizen. She holds a doctorate in Computer Science from the University of Johannesburg and a Master's degree in Electrical Engineering from a Chinese university.[2] She is married to a South African.[1]

Havard joined the African National Congress in 2004. She has been a member of and held leadership positions in multiple Chinese business and BRICS forums affiliated with the United Front Work Department of the Chinese Communist Party.[3] Havard is also the honourable president of the Africa Federation of Chinese Women in Commerce and Industry and the co-president of the South Africa-China Famous Female Business Council.[1]

In May 2019, she stood for election to the South African National Assembly as 130th on the ANC's national list.[4] Due to the ANC's electoral performance, she did not win a seat in parliament. It was later revealed that she was one of 23 MP candidates that the ANC's integrity committee wanted to remove from the party's lists because of "corruption, management and other acts of misconduct."[5]

Following the death of the Minister in the Presidency, Jackson Mthembu, on 21 January 2021, the ANC selected Havard to fill his seat in the National Assembly. She was sworn in on 27 January.[6][7] After her swearing-in, xenophobic hashtags trended on Twitter.[8]

References
  1. "Ringo the changes: muso joins surprising list of new MPLs". Sunday Times Daily. 17 May 2019. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  2. "Dr. Xiaomei Havard Biography | New ANC Member of Parliament". MzansiNewsLive. 2021-01-28. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
  3. Chansoria, Monika (2021-02-05). "China Installs Influence Operators in Diplomatic Posts, Foreign Lawmaking Bodies". Japan Forward. Retrieved 2021-02-06.
  4. "ANC national and provincial lists for 2019 elections". Politicsweb. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  5. Karrim, Azarrah; Madia, Tshidi (29 May 2019). "REVEALED: The 23 people red-flagged by the ANC's integrity body". News24. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  6. Mavuso, Sihle (27 January 2021). "ANC announces Jackson Mthembu's replacement in the National Assembly". Independent Online. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  7. Deklerk, Aphiwe (27 January 2021). "ANC appoints replacement for Jackson Mthembu and four other MPs who died". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  8. Gerber, Jan (28 January 2021). "Xenophobic hashtags trend on Twitter after ANC MP of Chinese heritage sworn in". News24. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
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