John Jeffery (South African politician)

**John Harold Jeffery** (born 31 October 1963) be de Deputy Minister of Justice den Constitutional Development insyd South Africa since 2013. He be appointed by President Jacob Zuma insyd a cabinet reshuffle on 9 July 2013, den remain insyd de post throughout de tenure of current President Cyril Ramaphosa.

## Life den career
Dem born Jeffery insyd Mauritius den grow up insyd George insyd South Africa. He get BA insyd Political Science den English, LLB, den a postgraduate diploma insyd Environmental Law from de University of KwaZulu-Natal. He be active insyd anti-Apartheid politics, den he practice briefly as an attorney, include, insyd de early 1990s, on cases involve political violence insyd KwaZulu-Natal. He leave to pursue ein political career insyd de KwaZulu-Natal provincial legislature, to which he belong from 1994 to 1999. Insyd South Africa ein second democratic elections insyd 1999, he be elected to de National Assembly on de African National Congress (ANC) list for KwaZulu-Natal. While a Member of Parliament, he serve on de Rules Committee den de Portfolio Committee on Justice den Constitutional Development. From 1999 to 2005, he be Parliamentary Counsellor to Deputy President Jacob Zuma, den he sanso be Parliamentary Counsellor to President Thabo Mbeki den Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe. He serve on de ANC National Executive Committee.

### Legislation
Jeffrey describe as a "champion" of de Prevention den Combating of Hate Crimes den Hate Speech Bill. According to de Business Day, as a senior member of de Portfolio Committee on Justice he drive de ANC caucus's efforts to pass de controversial Legal Practice Act, for which he continue to advocate after he be appointed to de Ministry.

## Controversies

### Remark about Lindiwe Mazibuko
Insyd a parliamentary debate insyd June 2013, Jeffrey compare Lindiwe Mazibuko ein stature as opposition leader plus ein "weight," by which many understand him to mean ein body weight. According to de Hansard, he say, "De Honourable Mazibuko may be a person of some weight, is she a person of some stature?" Follow national media coverage, de ANC issue a statement say dat Jeffery no intend to comment on Mazibuko ein physical appearance, but he unconditionally withdraw ein remark. He later apologise to Mazibuko insyd Parliament.

### Powers of de Public Protector den Nkandla judgement
According to de Mail den Guardian, by 2013 Jeffery get "a history of sparring plus Public Protector Thuli Madonsela over de extent of ein [office's] independence." Insyd 2014 den 2015, while Deputy Minister, he make headlines for arguing dat de Nkandla report den other decisions by de Public Protector no be legally binding. Insyd April 2016, he defend President Jacob Zuma insyd a parliamentary debate on an unsuccessful motion to remove him from office follow a Constitutional Court judgement about ein non-compliance plus de Public Protector ein report. Jeffery reportedly say dat, while de judgement find dat de President ein conduct be inconsistent plus de Constitution, it no find dat Zuma commit a "serious violation." He sanso reportedly say dat even de incumbent Public Protector, Thuli Madonsela, be unsure about de extent of de office ein powers, lead Madonsela to respond on Twitter Insyd 2015, she claim dat Jeffery initiate efforts to shrink de Office of de Public Protector, which he deny.

Insyd 2017, Jeffery receive further media attention for defend replacements Zuma make at de Judicial Service Commission, which recommend judicial appointments. Jeffery argue, as he already do insyd 2014, against de view dat Zuma undermine de independence of de judiciary.

## References