Former Nelson Mandela Bay DA Councillor, Leander Kruger, was officially sworn in as the newest Democratic Alliance member in the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature today.

Kruger, who has a master’s in law from Nelson Mandela University, has served as a councillor in Nelson Mandela Bay since 2016, where he served on the Budget and Treasury, Public Health and Rules and Ethics committees. He also served as former DA Mayor Retief Odendaal’s chief of staff.

The DA is committed to bringing in a new generation of young, talented leaders to ensure the voice of the youth is also represented. At 33 years old, Kruger becomes one of the youngest members of the Legislature and the youngest member of the DA caucus, being a few months younger than Yusuf Cassim.

He is a graduate of the 2018 class of the DA National Young Leaders Programme, a political leadership learning and development programme for South Africans who align themselves with the DA’s values of Freedom, Fairness, Opportunity and Diversity.

Kruger fills the vacant MPL position following Nqaba Bhanga’s departure.

His hard work and discipline as a councillor and chief of staff will serve him well as he takes up his new role in the Legislature.

Kruger will be the new Shadow MEC for Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism, and will also serve as a member of the Standing Committee of Public Accounts Portfolio Committee and the Office of the Premier Portfolio Committee.

We welcome him to the Bhisho Caucus and wish him well in his endeavours as he takes up this new role in the provincial legislature.

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