Jack Bloom is a South African politician who has been the Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation and a Member of the National Assembly of South Africa for the Democratic Alliance.
Jack Bloom | |
|---|---|
| Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation | |
| Assumed office 1 July 2026 | |
| President | Cyril Ramaphosa |
| Preceded by | Sello Seitlholo |
| Member of the National Assembly of South Africa | |
| Assumed office 30 June 2026 | |
| Leader of the Opposition in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature | |
| In office March 2011 – May 2014 | |
| Member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature | |
| In office December 2007 – April 2009 | |
| In office 1994 – 30 June 2026 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Jack Bloom 1961 (age 64–65) Doornfontein, Johannesburg, South Africa |
| Party | Democratic Alliance (2000–present) |
Other political affiliations | Democratic Party (Until 2003) |
| Education | Athlone Boys' High School |
| University of the Witwatersrand (BA, BA(Hons), MBA) University of South Africa (PhD) | |
He was the longest-serving Member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, having been elected as a Democratic Party member in 1994 and re-elected since for the Democratic Alliance. Bloom was the DA caucus leader and the Leader of the Opposition in the provincial legislature from December 2007 to April 2009 and again from March 2011 until May 2014. During his final years in the provincial legislature, he was the party's shadow health MEC.
Background
editBloom was born in Doornfontein in Johannesburg in 1961.[1] He attended Athlone Boys' High School.[2] He obtained BA and Honours degrees in industrial psychology from the University of the Witwatersrand. He also holds an MBA from the university.[2] In June 2025, he graduated from the University of South Africa with a PhD in Religious Studies.[3]
Political career
editBloom was a volunteer worker for the Progressive Federal Party in the early 1980s.[1] In 1991, he was elected as the ward councillor for Highlands North as a member of the Democratic Party. He was the youngest DP member in the City of Johannesburg council. In 1994, Bloom was elected to the Gauteng Provincial Legislature as one of five DP members.[2] Bloom was then appointed chief whip of the DP caucus.[1] He was re-elected to the provincial legislature in 1999.[1]
In 2000, the Democratic Alliance was formed when the DP merged with the New National Party and the Federal Alliance. Bloom was given dual-party membership and officially became a DA representative during the 2003 floor-crossing period.[5] He was re-elected in 2004 as the DA's support grew. In December 2007, the DA caucus elected him caucus leader and he then became leader of the opposition in the provincial legislature.[1]
Bloom was re-elected in 2009.[2] In March 2011, he once again became DA caucus leader and leader of the opposition. Prior to the 2014 general election, he applied to be the DA's Gauteng premier candidate.[6] The DA selected Mmusi Maimane. Bloom was re-elected to another term in the provincial legislature in the election. After the election, John Moodey was elected leader of the DA GPL caucus. Bloom was then appointed Shadow MEC for Health.[7]
Bloom was re-elected to the legislature in 2019 and remained as shadow health MEC.[8] He was re-elected to the legislature in the 2024 provincial election and continued serving as the DA's health spokesperson.[9]
National government
editOn 17 June 2026, DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis wrote to President Cyril Ramaphosa, request that he appoint Bloom as the Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, succeeding Sello Seitlholo.[10] He delivered his farewell address to the legislature on 25 June 2026 and resigned his seat.[11] On 30 June 2026, Ramaphosa acceded to Hill-Lewis's request and conducted a cabinet reshuffle, appointing Bloom to the role.[12] He was sworn in the following day.[13] Bloom filled Mathew Cuthbert's seat in the National Assembly, who resigned to become the DA's chief executive officer.[14]
References
edit- 1 2 3 4 5 "DA Gauteng". DA Gauteng. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
- 1 2 3 4 Huisman, Biénne (2 May 2019). "#People: Face to face with Jack Bloom". Spotlight. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
- ↑ "DA Gauteng congratulates Jack Bloom on completing PhD". Democratic Alliance - Gauteng. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
- ↑ Schneider, Moira (30 October 2015). "Jewish politician spends 30 nights in South African shanty town". The Times of Israel. ISSN 0040-7909. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
- ↑ John Kane-Berman; et al. (2004). South Africa Survey 2003/04. South African Institute of Race Relations. p. 480. ISBN 978-0-86982-476-4.
- ↑ Maphumulo, Solly (29 July 2013). "Bloom keen to take over as Gauteng premier". IOL. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
- ↑ "The DA Gauteng Shadow Cabinet - John Moodey - POLITICS | Politicsweb".
- ↑ "Gauteng DA unveils the province's shadow MECs". IOL. 23 May 2019. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
- ↑ "Cancer court action evokes memories of Esidimeni negligence". Democratic Alliance. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
- ↑ "Changes to DA representation in the Government of National Unity". Democratic Alliance. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
- ↑ "Solly Msimanga (@SollyMsimanga) on X". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 1 July 2026.
- ↑ "Ramaphosa announces cabinet reshuffle". Retrieved 1 July 2026.
- ↑ "New Ministers, Deputy Ministers sworn in | SAnews". www.sanews.gov.za. 1 July 2026. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
- ↑ Mokone, Thabo (1 July 2026). "DA appoints head of policy Mathew Cuthbert as its new CEO". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
External links
edit- Jack Bloom at People's Assembly