Member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament
Sharna Fernandez took which position in Sep 2018?
Sharna Fernandez Sharna Gail Fernandez is a South African politician and former banker who serves as the Western Cape Provincial Minister of Social Development . A member of the governing Democratic Alliance , she also serves as a Member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament . She served as the 6th Speaker of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament from 2014 to 2019 . Early life and career . Fernandez grew up in Retreat on the Cape Flats and matriculated from the South Peninsula High School . She obtained a degree from the University of Witwatersrand . Fernandez has served a thirty-year career working in three of the four large South African banks and has held the positions of Regional Manager , Sales and Service and acting General Manager of the ABSA mortgage division . In August 2009 , Fernandez was diagnosed with the H1N1 virus and was forced to take early retirement in order to restore her health . Her recovery period lasted three years and once it ended , Fernandez started doing community work and became actively involved in civic matters . She served as Chairperson of the local neighbourhood watch and joined and participated in many local community structures . She joined the Democratic Alliance in 2011 and has held various positions , such as chairperson of Ward 72 ( Princess Vlei ) and deputy chairperson of South Peninsula 2 constituency . She is currently constituency head of the Athlone 1 region in the City of Cape Town municipality . In 2014 , Fernandez was elected a Member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament . It was announced after the elections that she would be the Democratic Alliances candidate for the position of Speaker of the Provincial Parliament . On 21 May 2014 , the legislature reconvened for its first sitting of the Fifth Parliament . Judge President of the Western Cape High Court , John Hlope , presided over the election of Speaker . The largest opposition party , African National Congress , nominated Maurencia Gillion as their candidate . The vote was held by means of a secret ballot . Fernandez won the election . Fernandez was also designated to be the chairperson of the Rules Committee . In September 2018 , Fernandez declared herself to be a candidate to replace Patricia de Lille as Mayor of Cape Town as De Lille announced in August 2018 , that she would step down in October 2018 after months of legal battles with the Democratic Alliance . She was one of many candidates , alongside former Mayor Dan Plato and Deputy Mayor Ian Neilson . Her candidacy focused on regaining the trust of the people of Cape Town by serving the peoples needs and addressing crime in the city . She subsequently lost to Dan Plato , when the Democratic Alliance announced in September 2018 that Plato is their preferred candidate to be mayor . Following the May 2019 elections , Fernandez was succeeded by Masizole Mnqasela as Speaker of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament . She was appointed Provincial Minister of Social Development . Personal life . She is a Cape Filipina , with ancestry from Simons Town and Kalk Bay . Fernandez has lived in many South African provinces , such as the North West , Gauteng and Free State before returning to the Western Cape in 2009 .