Name Gavin Davis | Nationality South African | |
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Political party Democratic Alliance | ||
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Gavin Davis (born 3 August 1977) is a South African politician and communications professional. He is currently a Member of Parliament for the Democratic Alliance (DA), South Africa's official opposition.
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Background
Davis matriculated from Pinelands High School in Cape Town in 1995. He holds Honours and Masters degrees in politics from Rhodes University and the University of Cape Town. His interests include education, electoral systems and campaigning, media and elections, public broadcasting, social media and liberalism in South African politics.
Career in Politics
Davis joined the DA as a Researcher in 2004 and was later appointed Chief of Staff in the Leader's Office. After a stint as a Special Advisor to the Premier of the Western Cape, Helen Zille, Davis was appointed Executive Director of Communications for the DA in 2011.
As the DA's Executive Director of Communications, Davis was instrumental in the party's successful integration of traditional and digital marketing techniques. The party's 2013 'anonymous' anti-etolling billboard and accompanying social media campaign was pioneering in this regard.
Davis was central to a number of campaigns that sought to broaden the DA's appeal beyond its traditional support base. This included the 2013 'Know Your DA' campaign and the 2014 election campaign which began with a controversial protest march against unemployment outside the headquarters of the African National Congress in Johannesburg.
In 2014, Davis was placed ninth on the DA's list of Western Cape candidates for the National Assembly. In May 2014, Davis was elected by the DA caucus to serve as a Whip. In the same month, Parliamentary Leader Mmusi Maimane appointed Davis to the position of Shadow Minister of Communications.
In July 2014, Davis initiated a parliamentary inquiry into allegations that SABC Chairperson Ellen Tshabalala had lied to Parliament about her qualifications when she applied for a position on the SABC Board. The inquiry eventually found Tshabalala guilty of misconduct and perjury, and recommended her removal from the Board. Tshabalala resigned before she could be formally removed on 17 December 2014.
On 3 October 2015, DA Leader Mmusi Maimane appointed Davis as Shadow Minister of Basic Education.