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Xiaomei Havard

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Xiaomei Havard
Chinese: 张晓梅
Member of the National Assembly of South Africa
In office
27 January 2021 – 28 May 2024
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

Xiaomei Havard (Chinese: 小梅哈佛; pinyin: Zhāng Xiǎoméi)[1] is a Chinese-born South African businesswoman and politician from Gauteng who served as a Member of Parliament for the African National Congress.

Early life and education

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Havard is from Henan, China.[2] 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.[3] She is married to a South African.[2]

Political career

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Havard joined the African National Congress in 2004. 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.[2]

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, mismanagement, and other acts of misconduct."[5]

Parliament

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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] Havard serves on the Portfolio Committee on Health.[9]

On 3 September 2021, she directed her first parliamentary question to President Cyril Ramaphosa, asking him about the slow vaccination rate and what the government was doing to put an end to vaccination fears and encourage citizens to vaccinate.[10]

Allegations of espionage

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Further information: Chinese intelligence activity abroad

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 (CCP).[11][12]

In September 2021, it was reported that a leaked counter-intelligence report, prepared by the State Security Agency, judged with "high likelihood" that Havard has been sharing classified information with the CCP.[13] Both Xiaomei and Zizi Kodwa, Deputy Minister in the Presidency for State Security, denied the reports.[14] The Chief Whip of the ANC, Pemmy Majodina, said that her office does not receive intelligence reports and so could not comment further.[15] The Democratic Alliance demanded that President Cyril Ramaphosa should publish the report.[14] A commentary in the Daily Maverick questioned the reports, because "if Xiaomei Havard has indeed been sent into the ANC parliamentary caucus to spy for the Chinese government, she seems a very silly choice" due to her lack of connections with other MPs and poor English.[16]

References

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  1. ^ "向前一大步！南非出现首位新侨华裔国会议员_张晓梅". www.sohu.com (in Chinese). 27 January 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "Ringo the changes: muso joins surprising list of new MPLs". Sunday Times Daily. 17 May 2019. Archived from the original on 1 February 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  3. ^ "Dr. Xiaomei Havard Biography | New ANC Member of Parliament". MzansiNewsLive. 28 January 2021. Archived from the original on 28 January 2021. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  4. ^ "ANC national and provincial lists for 2019 elections". Politicsweb. Archived from the original on 23 March 2019. 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. Archived from the original on 28 January 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  6. ^ Mavuso, Sihle (27 January 2021). "ANC announces Jackson Mthembu's replacement in the National Assembly". Independent Online. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  7. ^ Deklerk, Aphiwe (27 January 2021). "ANC appoints replacement for Jackson Mthembu and four other MPs who died". TimesLIVE. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  8. ^ Gerber, Jan (28 January 2021). "Xenophobic hashtags trend on Twitter after ANC MP of Chinese heritage sworn in". News24. Archived from the original on 28 January 2021. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  9. ^ "Health | PMG". pmg.org.za. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  10. ^ "ANC's Chinese MP asks first parliamentary question days after spy accusations". The Citizen. 3 September 2021. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  11. ^ Chansoria, Monika (5 February 2021). "China Installs Influence Operators in Diplomatic Posts, Foreign Lawmaking Bodies". Japan Forward. Archived from the original on 5 February 2021. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  12. ^ Dunning, Sam; Khoza, Amanda (6 July 2021). "ANC funder-turned-MP and her 'links' to shadowy Chinese agency". Sunday Times. Archived from the original on 6 July 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  13. ^ Felix, Jason (1 September 2021). "SSA report finds 'high likelihood' ANC MP Xiaomei Havard is spying for China". News24. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  14. ^ a b Masweneng, Kgaugelo (1 September 2021). "'I am not a spy': ANC MP Xiaomei Havard on China 'spy report'". TimesLIVE.
  15. ^ Felix, Jason (1 September 2021). "ANC chief whip's office 'not privy to intelligence reports' suggesting Xiaomei Havard is a spy". news24.
  16. ^ Davis, Rebecca (1 September 2021). "How seriously should we take the claim of a possible Chinese spy in parliament?". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
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