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Mohammed Haniff Hoosen is a South African politician who served as a Member for the National Assembly for the Independent Democrats (ID) (2007–2014) and for the Democratic Alliance (DA) (2014–2024). Within the Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet, he was the Shadow Minister of Home Affairs from 2014 to 2019, the Shadow Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs from 2019 to 2020 and the DA's spokesperson on the Standing Committee on the Auditor-General from 2020 until his resignation in 2024.

Biography

Hoosen was born in Chatsworth in the former Natal Province. He joined the National Party (NP), which became the New National Party (NNP). He was elected to the Durban city council in 1996 and served on the council until 2001.

Hoosen joined the Independent Democrats in 2005 and served as head of the party's campaign in the 2006 municipal elections. He was soon elected Secretary-General of the ID in 2007. He joined the National Assembly in the same year. The ID joined the DA in 2010 and Hoosen was given dual party membership. In 2012, Hoosen was elected as the Provincial Chairperson of the DA. He became a DA MP in 2014 and was named the party's Shadow Minister of Home Affairs. He was re-elected as provincial chair in 2015.

Ahead of the 2016 municipal elections, Hoosen was selected as the DA's mayoral candidate for the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality. The ANC retained control of the municipality and Hoosen remained an MP. Hoosen did not run for re-election as provincial chair in 2018.

In 2019, he became the Shadow Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.

In December 2020, Hoosen was appointed as the DA's spokesperson on the Standing Committee on the Auditor-General.

On 19 February 2024, Hoosen resigned as a member of the National Assembly.

Controversies

In 2011, Errol Walters, who served on the Democratic Alliance's electoral college, stated that the party was 'rife with nepotism and cronyism', alluding to the 'parachuting' of Hoosen's wife- Sharon Chetty. The then DA provincial leader Sizwe Mchunu stated: “It’s absolute, absolute lies.” Mchunu explained that: “This appears to be people who are aggrieved they didn’t make it… it’s sour grapes”.

In 2015- Hoosen who was at the time the then secretary-general of the Independent Democrats (ID) found out from the Sunday Star that one of the ID's parliamentary nominees, Narentuk Jumuna, was a convicted killer. Narentuk Jumuna, also served with Hoosen in the National Party. Jumuna, previously known as Shan Mohangi, was convicted of the murder of Hazel Mullen in Dublin, Ireland in 1962. Hoosen later stated 'that had the party been aware of the issue in the first place, Jumuna would not have been selected as a candidate.' This is completely untrue as Shan Mohangi's past was public knowledge and was consistently on the front page of all newspapers during previous election campaigns. Everyone in Sough African politics was aware of his past.

In 2016, Hoosen was nominated as the Democratic Alliance's mayoral candidate for eThekwini. The ANC provincial spokesman, Mdumiseni Ntuli, stated that Hoosen's 'apartheid past effectively disqualified him from running for the eThekwini mayoral position'. Hoosen was a full-time, paid organizer for the National Party during Apartheid- a fact that Hoosen confirmed during a multi-party debate on Radio Al-Ansaar.

Hoosen has called for the review and debate of immigration regulations, reflecting the DA's stance on immigration, which has been criticized as anti-poor and xenophobic. The DA's rhetoric suggests that foreigners are responsible for high unemployment rates and job theft from South Africans, a perspective that has faced backlash for promoting xenophobia.

References

1. Cole, Barbara (25 July 2016). "DA candidate Hoosen's NP ties irk ANC". IOL. Durban. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
2. "DA elects new KZN leaders". News24. Durban. 17 March 2012. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
3. Harper, Paddy (17 July 2016). "DA pins hopes on Hoosen in eThekwini". city-press.news24.com. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
4. Maimane, Mmusi (5 June 2014). "The DA's shadow cabinet - Mmusi Maimane". politicsweb. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
5. Khoza, Amanda (25 April 2015). "New KZN DA leader elected". News24. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
6. Singh, Kaveel (14 March 2016). "Haniff Hoosen: Durban's next mayor?". News24. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
7. "ANC secures eThekwini". eNCA. 5 August 2016. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
8. Pillay, Kailene (4 February 2018). "WATCH: DA KZN re-elects Mncwango to lead". IOL. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
9. Maimane, Mmusi (5 June 2019). "The DA's new Shadow Cabinet ready to make Parliament work for the people". da.org.za. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
10. Mazzone, Natasha. "DA announces new Shadow Cabinet that will bring Real Hope and Real Change". Retrieved 5 December 2020. |website=Democratic Alliance |
11. National Assembly Members. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
12. "DA councillors 'imposed on list'".
13. "The South African politician and the brutal killing of Hazel Mullen in Dublin". 20 March 2015.
14. "DA candidate Hoosen's NP ties irk ANC".
15. "DA calls for review of new immigration law".
16. "High fences and unworthy foreigners: Anti-poor immigration plans and rhetoric in SA". 22 March 2018.

External links

• Mr Mohammed Haniff Hoosen – Parliament of South Africa
• Mr Mohammed Haniff Hoosen – People's Assembly

• Living people
• Democratic Alliance (South Africa) politicians
• Independent Democrats (South Africa) politicians
• Politicians from Durban
• South African politicians of Indian descent
• Members of the National Assembly of South Africa 2004–2009
• Members of the National Assembly of South Africa 2009–2014
• Members of the National Assembly of South Africa 2014–2019
• Members of the National Assembly of South Africa 2019–2024