# Godfrey Oliphant

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{{Short description|South African politician (born 1959)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Godfrey Oliphant
| native_name         = 
| native_name_lang    = 
| image               = Godfrey Oliphant.jpg
| alt                 = 
| caption             = Oliphant in 2012
| order               = [Deputy Minister of Mineral Resources](/source/Minister_of_Mineral_Resources_(South_Africa))
| office              = 
| term_start          = 1 November 2010
| term_end            = 7 May 2019
| alongside           = 
| deputy              = 
| president           = [Jacob Zuma](/source/Jacob_Zuma)<br />[Cyril Ramaphosa](/source/Cyril_Ramaphosa)
| succeeding          = 
| predecessor         = ''Office established''
| successor           = [Bavelile Hlongwa](/source/Bavelile_Hlongwa) <small>(for Mineral Resources and Energy)</small>
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1959|03|27|df=yes}}
| birth_place         = [Warrenton](/source/Warrenton%2C_South_Africa), [Cape Province](/source/Cape_Province)<br />[Union of South Africa](/source/Union_of_South_Africa)
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| birth_name            = Gaolatlhe Godfrey Oliphant
| citizenship         = 
| party               = [African National Congress](/source/African_National_Congress)
| other_party          = [South African Communist Party](/source/South_African_Communist_Party)<br />[Congress of South African Trade Unions](/source/Congress_of_South_African_Trade_Unions)
| partner             = 
| relations           = 
| children            = 
| alma_mater          = 
| occupation          = 
| minister            = [Susan Shabangu](/source/Susan_Shabangu)<br />[Ngoako Ramatlhodi](/source/Ngoako_Ramatlhodi)<br />[Mosebenzi Zwane](/source/Mosebenzi_Zwane)<br />[Gwede Mantashe](/source/Gwede_Mantashe)
| office1             = [Member of the National Assembly](/source/National_Assembly_of_South_Africa)
| term_start1           = 5 August 2009
| term_start2           = 9 May 1994
| term_end2             = April 2009
| term_end1             = 7 May 2019
}}

'''Gaolatlhe Godfrey Oliphant''' (born 27 March 1959) is a South African politician and former [trade unionist](/source/Trade_unions_in_South_Africa) from the [Northern Cape](/source/Northern_Cape). He was the [Deputy Minister of Mineral Resources](/source/Minister_of_Mineral_Resources_and_Energy) between November 2010 and May 2019. A member of the [African National Congress](/source/African_National_Congress), he served in the [National Assembly of South Africa](/source/National_Assembly_of_South_Africa) from May 1994 to May 2019, excepting a three-month hiatus in 2009.

Oliphant began his career as a mineworker at [De Beers](/source/De_Beers)'s [Finsch mine](/source/Finsch_Mine), where he rose to prominence as a shop steward and organiser for the [National Union of Mineworkers](/source/National_Union_of_Mineworkers_(South_Africa)). He went on to hold senior office in all three wings of the [Tripartite Alliance](/source/Tripartite_Alliance): he served as deputy provincial chairperson of the ANC in the Northern Cape, as national vice-president of the [Congress of South African Trade Unions](/source/Congress_of_South_African_Trade_Unions), and, between 1995 and 2022, as a member of the [Central Committee](/source/Central_Committee_of_the_South_African_Communist_Party) of the [South African Communist Party](/source/South_African_Communist_Party).

== Early life and education ==
One of a family of eight, Oliphant was born on 27 March 1959 in [Warrenton](/source/Warrenton%2C_South_Africa) in the former [Cape Province](/source/Cape_Province) (present-day [Northern Cape](/source/Northern_Cape)).<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Snuki |first=Zikalala |author-link=Snuki Zikalala |date=1992 |title=Godfrey Oliphant: always in touch with the workers |url=https://www.southafricanlabourbulletin.org.za/godfrey-oliphant-always-in-touch-with-the-workers/ |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=South Africa Labour Bulletin |language=en-US}}</ref> He was raised in Warrenton by his mother, who was a domestic worker.<ref name=":0" /> After finishing his primary education in 1974 in Warrenton, he attended Huhudi High School in [Vryburg](/source/Vryburg), where he became involved in [anti-apartheid politics](/source/Internal_resistance_to_apartheid). He matriculated in 1979.<ref name=":0" />

== Trade union activism ==
After a brief stint as a storeman at an [Edgars](/source/Edgars_(department_store)) store, in 1980 Oliphant was hired at the [Finsch mine](/source/Finsch_Mine), a [De Beers](/source/De_Beers) [diamond mine](/source/Diamond_mining_in_South_Africa) near [Lime Acres, Northern Cape](/source/Lime_Acres).<ref name=":0" /> He later said that, infected with political "militancy" at high school, the living and working conditions of his fellow mineworkers politicised him further.<ref name=":0" /> Later in 1980 he was involved in a major [wildcat](/source/Wildcat_strike) [stay-away](/source/stay-away) at the mine.<ref name=":0" /> Through the influence of [trade union](/source/Trade_unions_in_South_Africa) organiser [Manne Dipico](/source/Manne_Dipico), the Finsch mineworkers joined the [National Union of Mineworkers](/source/National_Union_of_Mineworkers_(South_Africa)) (NUM) after it was founded in 1982; Oliphant became the chairperson of the Finsch branch.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date= |title=Deputy Minister of Mineral Resources – Godfrey Oliphant |url=http://www.info.gov.za/leaders/depmin/minener.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111219170706/http://www.info.gov.za/leaders/depmin/minener.htm |archive-date=2011-12-19 |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=South African Government Information}}</ref> A formal [recognition](/source/Union_recognition) agreement was concluded in 1986 and Oliphant was elected as the mine's full-time [shop steward](/source/shop_steward) in 1988.<ref name=":0" />

The NUM was a major affiliate of the [Congress of South African Trade Unions](/source/Congress_of_South_African_Trade_Unions) (COSATU) and, also in 1988, Oliphant was elected as the chairperson of COSATU's largest regional branch, which covered the Northern Cape and [Orange Free State](/source/Orange_Free_State_(province)).'''<ref name=":0" />''' By 1992 he was second national vice-president of COSATU, while still serving as full-time shop steward at Finsch.'''<ref name=":0" />''' He also served on the regional and national executive committees of the NUM.'''<ref name=":1" />''' He developed a particular interest in [political education](/source/political_education), chairing both the NUM's branch education committee and COSATU's national education committee.'''<ref name=":1" />'''

Oliphant also became involved in structures of both of COSATU's [Tripartite Alliance](/source/Tripartite_Alliance) partners, the [African National Congress](/source/African_National_Congress) (ANC) and [South African Communist Party](/source/South_African_Communist_Party) (SACP). He became involved in ANC activities in the late 1980s while the parties were still banned,'''<ref name=":0" />''' and in 1990 he was appointed to the interim regional leadership corps that established the ANC's legal structures in the Northern Cape.<ref name=":1" /> He also became chairperson of the SACP's local branch in Warrenton.<ref name=":1" />

== Legislator: 1994–2010 ==
In South Africa's [first post-apartheid elections](/source/1994_South_African_general_election) in April 1994, Oliphant was elected to represent the ANC in the [National Assembly](/source/National_Assembly_of_South_Africa), the lower house of the new [South African Parliament](/source/South_African_Parliament).<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/13429370/south-africa-campaign-and-election-report-april-26- |title=South Africa: Campaign and Election Report April 26–29, 1994 |publisher=[International Republican Institute](/source/International_Republican_Institute) |year=1994 |access-date=13 April 2023 |via=Yumpu}}</ref> He served in his seat for the next 25 years, gaining re-election to five consecutive terms.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Godfrey Oliphant, Mr |url=https://www.gov.za/about-government/contact-directory/godfrey-oliphant-mr |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=South African Government}}</ref> He was briefly absent from the National Assembly for three months after the [April 2009 general election](/source/2009_South_African_general_election), when he failed to gain re-election to his seat, but he was sworn back in on 5 August 2009 to fill the casual vacancy created by [Ngconde Balfour](/source/Ngconde_Balfour)'s resignation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Members of the National Assembly |url=http://www.pmg.org.za/node/30336 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209085913/http://www.pmg.org.za/node/30336 |archive-date=9 February 2014 |access-date=2 March 2023 |website=Parliamentary Monitoring Group}}</ref>

During the [First Parliament](/source/22nd_South_African_Parliament), Oliphant was the inaugural chairperson of the [Portfolio Committee on Labour](/source/Portfolio_Committee_on_Labour), which at the time was processing the major [Labour Relations Bill](/source/Labour_Relations_Act%2C_1995).<ref>{{Cite web |date=1995-08-25 |title=Unseemly rush to pass Labour Bill |url=https://mg.co.za/article/1995-08-25-unseemly-rush-to-pass-labour-bill/ |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=1995-06-02 |title=It's do or die in the season of strikes |url=https://mg.co.za/article/1995-06-02-its-do-or-die-in-the-season-of-strikes/ |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}</ref> In this period he was at the peak of his influence inside the ANC: between 1994 and 1998, he served two terms as [deputy provincial chairman](/source/Provincial_Chairperson_of_the_African_National_Congress) of the ANC's Northern Cape branch.<ref name=":34">{{Cite web |date=1997-12-17 |title=50th National Conference: Report of the Secretary General |url=https://www.anc1912.org.za/50th-national-conference-report-of-the-secretary-general-provincial-reports/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221128234926/https://www.anc1912.org.za/50th-national-conference-report-of-the-secretary-general-provincial-reports/ |archive-date=28 November 2022 |access-date=29 November 2022 |website=African National Congress}}</ref> Indeed, he was viewed as a plausible candidate to challenge unionist Manne Dipico for the provincial chairmanship of the party.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1998-03-13 |title='Manne Dipico framed me' |url=https://mg.co.za/article/1998-03-13-manne-dipico-framed-me/ |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}</ref> In addition, at the SACP's 9th National Congress in 1995, he was elected to the first of six consecutive terms on the SACP [Central Committee](/source/Central_Committee_of_the_South_African_Communist_Party).'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Previous Central Committee Members |url=https://sacp.org.za/content/previous-central-committee-members |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=South African Communist Party (SACP)}}</ref>'''

In later years in Parliament, Olifant chaired the [Portfolio Committee on Public Works](/source/Portfolio_Committee_on_Public_Works) and [Portfolio Committee on Minerals and Energy](/source/Portfolio_Committee_on_Minerals_and_Energy).<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1" /> He also served as the ANC's [whip](/source/Whip_(politics)) in the [Portfolio Committee on Communications](/source/Portfolio_Committee_on_Communications),<ref name=":1" /> and he was acting chairperson of that committee during the [Third Parliament](/source/24th_South_African_Parliament). However, in August 2007 he was replaced by Ismail Vadi and transferred to the chair of the less prestigious [Portfolio Committee on Science and Technology](/source/Portfolio_Committee_on_Science_and_Technology), a demotion that was regarded as the result of his lukewarm relationship with President [Thabo Mbeki](/source/Thabo_Mbeki).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2007-08-30 |title=Massive Parliament reshuffle |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2007-08-31-massive-parliament-reshuffle/ |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}</ref> Maintaining his interest in political education, he served a stint as chairperson of the study group for ANC committee chairpersons.<ref name=":2" />

== Deputy minister: 2010–2019 ==
[[File:Reunión con Viceministro de Minas de Sudáfrica (7310242404).jpg|thumb|Oliphant with Ecuadorian Foreign Minister [Ricardo Patiño](/source/Ricardo_Pati%C3%B1o) in [Quito](/source/Quito), 31 May 2012]]
On 31 October 2010, in his first [cabinet](/source/First_Cabinet_of_Jacob_Zuma) reshuffle as [President of South Africa](/source/President_of_South_Africa), Jacob Zuma appointed Oliphant as [Deputy Minister of Mineral Resources](/source/Minister_of_Mineral_Resources_(South_Africa)).<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=31 October 2010 |title=President Zuma announces changes to the National Executive |url=https://www.gov.za/news/media-statements/president-zuma-announces-changes-national-executive-31-oct-2010 |access-date=2024-07-04 |website=South African Government}}</ref> The Ministry of Mineral Resources had been established after the 2009 election, under the leadership of Minister [Susan Shabangu](/source/Susan_Shabangu), but it had not had a deputy minister until 2010; Zuma said that he was establishing the deputy post in recognition of the importance of [the mining sector](/source/Mining_industry_of_South_Africa) to the [South African economy](/source/Economy_of_South_Africa).<ref name=":3" />

In his first two years in office, Oliphant faced a "gigantic" defeat in the Northern Cape ANC when, at a June 2012 elective conference in [Upington](/source/Upington), he ran against [John Block](/source/John_Block_(South_African_politician)) in a bid to win the ANC provincial chairmanship.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Hlongwane |first=Sipho |date=2012-06-13 |title=The ANC's John Block problem |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2012-06-14-the-ancs-john-block-problem/ |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=Daily Maverick |language=en}}</ref> He received only 32 votes to Block's 496.<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-06-11 |title=Northern Cape ANC backs land reform, nixes mine grab |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2012-06-11-northern-cape-anc-backs-land-reform-nixes-mine-grab/ |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}</ref>

He nonetheless continued to serve as Deputy Minister of Mineral Resources through the remainder of the [Fourth Parliament](/source/25th_South_African_Parliament) and the entirety of the [Fifth Parliament](/source/26th_South_African_Parliament), a period that spanned the rest of [Zuma's presidency](/source/Presidency_of_Jacob_Zuma). During that time he served under three consecutive Mineral Resources Ministers: Shabangu was succeeded by [Ngoako Ramatlhodi](/source/Ngoako_Ramatlhodi) after the [2014 general election](/source/2014_South_African_general_election),<ref name=":02">{{Cite web |date=25 May 2014 |title=President Jacob Zuma announces members of the National Executive |url=https://www.gcis.gov.za/content/newsroom/media-releases/media-statements/cabinet_25may2014 |access-date=2 July 2024 |website=Government Communication and Information System}}</ref> and then by [Mosebenzi Zwane](/source/Mosebenzi_Zwane) after a 2015 [cabinet](/source/Second_Cabinet_of_Jacob_Zuma) reshuffle.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-09-23 |title=Zuma fills Cabinet vacancy, appoints new minister |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2015-09-23-zuma-fills-cabinet-vacancy-appoints-new-minister/ |access-date=2024-07-02 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-09-23 |title=New minister of mines tainted by Gupta family link |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2015-09-23-new-minister-of-mines-tainted-by-gupta-family-link/ |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}</ref> His duties included the chairmanship of the Presidential Inter-Ministerial Committee on Revitalising Distressed Mining Communities, which reported directly to President Zuma's office.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-12-11 |title=GroundUp: Silicosis – we're close to a deal with the mines, says miners' attorney |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2017-12-11-groundup-silicosis-were-close-to-a-deal-with-the-mines-says-miners-attorney/ |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=Daily Maverick |language=en}}</ref> The ''[Mail & Guardian](/source/Mail_%26_Guardian)'' said that he was "respected for his work in Parliament and his knowledge of the sector",<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-02-16 |title=Tainted people can't lead ANC's transformation charge |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2018-02-16-00-tainted-people-cant-lead-ancs-transformation-charge/ |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}</ref> as well as "close to Zuma".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-06-01 |title=ANC branches embroiled in factional turmoil |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2012-06-01-anc-branches-embroiled-in-factional-turmoil/ |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}</ref> Conversely, ''Miningmx'' agreed that he was "capable and knowledgeable of the industry" but regarded him as unlikely to be promoted to a cabinet position "owing to the fact he doesn't carry huge favour with Zuma".<ref>{{Cite web |last=McKay |first=David |date=22 May 2014 |title=Who will be SA's next mines minister? |url=https://www.miningmx.com/news/markets/22315-who-will-be-sa-s-next-mines-minister/ |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=Miningmx |language=en-ZA}}</ref>

After [Cyril Ramaphosa](/source/Cyril_Ramaphosa) [took office](/source/2018_South_African_presidential_election) as president in February 2018, Oliphant was retained as Deputy Minister of Mineral Resources under new Minister [Gwede Mantashe](/source/Gwede_Mantashe).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-02-26 |title=New deputy president, finance minister announced in major Cabinet reshuffle |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2018-02-26-ramaphosa-cabinet-reshuffle-february-2018/ |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}</ref> However, he did not seek re-election to Parliament in the [May 2019 general election](/source/2019_South_African_general_election).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Godfrey Oliphant |url=http://www.pa.org.za/person/gaolatlhe-godfrey-oliphant/ |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=People's Assembly |language=en}}</ref> He continued to serve on the SACP Central Committee until its next national congress in July 2022, after which he dropped off the committee for the first time since 1995.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Current Central Committee |url=https://sacp.org.za/content/current-central-committee |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=South African Communist Party (SACP)}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Oliphant has been married since 1986 and has three children, two daughters and one son.<ref name=":0" /> In August 2013, his 31-year-old niece was raped and murdered in [Ikutseng, Warrenton](/source/Ikutseng).<ref>{{Cite news |date=12 August 2013 |title=Raped and left to die |url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/raped-and-left-to-die-1560926 |access-date=5 July 2024 |work=IOL}}</ref>

As of 2012 he owned seven properties.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-11-30 |title=Multiple homes for many MPs |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2012-11-30-00-multiple-homes-for-many-mps/ |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}</ref> In January 2014, the [SPCA](/source/SPCA) in [Kimberley](/source/Kimberley%2C_Northern_Cape) reported that it had sent Oliphant a warning after inspecting his Kaktusplaas farm in Warrenton; it threatened to confiscate the 20 pigs reared on the farm if Oliphant did not improve their living conditions.<ref>{{Cite news |date=28 January 2014 |title=Oliphant's farm a pig sty: SPCA |url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/northern-cape/oliphants-farm-a-pig-sty-spca-1638331 |access-date=5 July 2024 |work=IOL}}</ref> Oliphant's spokesperson said that the pigs belonged to and were cared for by Oliphant's family but that Oliphant was cooperating fully with SPCA inspectors.<ref>{{Cite news |date=29 January 2014 |title=Deputy minister responds to pig allegations |url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/deputy-minister-responds-to-pig-allegations-1638563 |access-date=5 July 2024 |work=IOL}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==

* {{People's Assembly (South Africa)|id=gaolatlhe-godfrey-oliphant|name=Mr Godfrey Oliphant}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Oliphant, Godfrey}}
Category:Living people
Category:1959 births
Category:African National Congress politicians
Category:Members of the National Assembly of South Africa 2004–2009
Category:Members of the National Assembly of South Africa 2009–2014
Category:Members of the National Assembly of South Africa 2014–2019
Category:Members of the South African Communist Party
Category:People from the Frances Baard District Municipality
Category:Politicians from the Northern Cape
Category:South African trade unionists
Category:Members of the National Assembly of South Africa 1994–1999
Category:Members of the National Assembly of South Africa 1999–2004

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Godfrey Oliphant](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godfrey_Oliphant) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godfrey_Oliphant?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.