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Nomafrench MbomboMPP
Mbombo in 2019
Western Cape Provincial Minister of Health
In office 1 January 2015 – 13 June 2024
Premier	Alan Winde Helen Zille
Preceded by	Theuns Botha
Succeeded by	Mireille Wenger
Federal Leader of the Democratic Alliance Women's Network
In office 7 April 2018 – 28 April 2021
Deputy	Dr Arlene Adams Safiyia Stanfley
Preceded by	Denise Robinson
Succeeded by	Dr Arlene Adams
Western Cape Provincial Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport
In office 26 May 2014 – 1 January 2015
Premier	Helen Zille
Preceded by	Ivan Meyer
Succeeded by	Theuns Botha
Member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament
Incumbent
Assumed office 21 May 2014
Personal details
Born	(1966-09-06) 6 September 1966 (age 58) Mdantsane, East London, South Africa
Political party	Democratic Alliance (2013–present)
Children	2
Occupation	Politician

Nomafrench Mbombo (born 6 September 1966) is a South African academic and politician who has been a Member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament since 2014, representing the Democratic Alliance. She previously served as the Western Cape Provincial Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport from 2014 to 2015 and as the Western Cape Provincial Minister of Health from 2015 until 2024. Mbombo was the Federal Leader of the Democratic Alliance Women's Network from 2018 to 2021.

Early life and education

Mbombo was born on 6 September 1966. She spent her childhood in Mdantsane, East London in the former Cape Province.

She earned a PhD in the fields of Gender and Human Rights from the University of the Western Cape. Mbombo achieved her Masters in Maternal and Child Health from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, and her Bachelors in Nursing Science from the University of Fort Hare. She was then employed in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provincial and local government health departments.

Before being involved in politics, she worked as an associate professor at the Faculty of Community and Health Sciences Department of the University of the Western Cape.

She has also served as a member of various organisations, such as the National Committee of Confidential Enquiries on Maternal Death, NEPAD, and the UN Office of Human Rights: Women & Gender Directorate.

As of 2024, Mbombo was bestowed the title of Honorary Professor through the School of Nursing at the University of the Western Cape, which further highlights her legacy in the healthcare sector.

Political career

Mbombo, previously an African National Congress supporter, joined the DA in 2013, after attending a DA meeting for black professionals.

Mbombo was elected to the Western Cape Provincial Parliament in the 8 May 2014 election and was sworn in as a Member on 21 May 2014. She represents the Philippi region of the City of Cape Town. Premier Helen Zille appointed Mbombo to the post of Western Cape Provincial Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport. She was sworn in as Provincial Minister on 26 May 2014.

In December 2014, Premier Zille announced that Theuns Botha and Mbombo would exchange ministerial positions. Mbombo would become Western Cape Provincial Minister of Health, while Botha would take her position. The changes came into effect on 1 January 2015.

In 2018, incumbent Democratic Alliance Women's Network Federal Leader Denise Robinson announced that she would not seek re-election to another term. Mbombo subsequently declared her candidacy and was elected at the party's Federal Congress on 7 April 2018.

In May 2019, newly elected premier Alan Winde announced that he had retained Mbombo in her post as Provincial Minister of Health.

In October 2019, she declared her candidacy for interim Federal Chairperson of the Democratic Alliance following Athol Trollip's resignation. She lost to Ivan Meyer.

In December 2020, Mbombo was criticised for posting on Facebook that she was on holiday in Limpopo, amid the second wave of COVID-19 infections in the Western Cape. She said that it was a "well-deserved, long overdue break".

On 28 April 2021, Mbombo resigned as the Federal Leader of the DA's Women's Network. Her resignation came after Bonginkosi Madikizela resigned as DA provincial leader and the Provincial Minister of Transport and Public Works.

In February 2023, Mbombo was officially named the Patron of the University of Cape Town's Global Surgery Programme, which was established to help create an environment that will empower leaders in their respective fields to be change agents in the health sector.

Later in 2023, Mbombo was one of the candidates awarded in "The Governing Woman" category in the Mail and Guardian's annual Power of Women award ceremony. This award acknowledges her contribution and leadership in the public sector as Western Cape Minister of Health and Wellness.

After the DA retained control of the Western Cape in the 2024 provincial election, Winde sacked her as Provincial Minister of Health.

Personal life

Mbombo was married and has two daughters. Her husband died in 2003.

References

1. "Nomafrench Mbombo quits DA leadership position on same day as partner". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
2. Nomafrench Mbombo. Democratic Alliance. Retrieved on 3 January 2019.
3. Professor Nomafrench Mbombo. Western Cape Government. Retrieved on 3 January 2019.
4. ^ Premier Helen Zille Announces New Cabinet. Western Cape Government. Retrieved on 3 January 2019.
5. Ruiters, Tracy-Lynn (4 December 2023). "Dr Nomafrench Mbombo gets honorary professor title from UWC". Cape Argus.
6. ^ Huisman, Biénne (29 August 2019). "Mbombo: From domestic worker to MEC". spotlightnsp.co.za. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
7. Dr Nomafrench Mbombo. People's Assembly. Retrieved on 3 January 2019.
8. Zille cracks whip in Cabinet reshuffle. News24. Retrieved on 3 January 2019.
9. DA Federal Council meets ahead of party congress. EWN. Retrieved on 3 January 2019.
10. New DA Women's Network leader pays tribute to domestic abuse victims. Mail & Guardian. Retrieved on 3 January 2019.
11. Western Cape premier Alan Winde's cabinet a mix of old and new. Retrieved on 23 May 2019.
12. Ndamase, Mkhululi (4 November 2019). "Mdantsane's Mbombo in running as interim DA federal chair". HeraldLIVE. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
13. "John Steenhuisen wins DA interim leader position". The Citizen. 17 November 2019. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
14. du Plessis, Carien (24 December 2020). "Western Cape health MEC slammed for holidaying as health workers struggle to cope with Covid-19". News24. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
15. "WC Health MEC resigns as DA Women's Network Federal leader | eNCA".
16. Davids, Niemah (1 March 2023). "Collaboration, leadership, failure – the mainstays of advancing leadership in global surgery". University of Cape Town.
17. "Nomafrench Mbombo: THE GOVERNING WOMAN". Mail and Guardian. 28 August 2023.
18. Charles, Marvin. "Some left out in cold, others stuck on benches: No space in Winde's new cabinet for Nomafrench Mbombo". News24. Retrieved 14 June 2024.

v t e Ministers of Alan Winde's Western Cape Provincial Cabinet
Alan Winde Reagen Allen Anton Bredell Sharna Fernandez Albert Fritz Ricardo Mackenzie Bonginkosi Madikizela Anroux Marais David Maynier Nomafrench Mbombo Ivan Meyer Daylin Mitchell Debbie Schäfer Tertuis Simmers Mireille Wenger

• Living people
• Democratic Alliance (South Africa) politicians
• Members of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament
• Xhosa people
• Women members of provincial legislatures of South Africa
• 21st-century South African women politicians
• 1966 births