Profile of Jacobs Ignatius Patrick
Gauteng MEC for Public Transport, Roads and Works
Ignatius Patrick Jacobs was born in Riverlea, Johannesburg , and is the third youngest out of a family of eleven children. He matriculated in 1981 from Riverlea High School.
Mr. Jacobs holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, and a MA Political Science Degree from Washington International University , in the United States of America.
Mr. Jacobs participated actively in the formation of youth, women and civic organisations from an early age during the years of Apartheid, it was during these years that his schooling and university education at the University of the Western-Cape was increasingly disrupted with long spells of detention without trial, police harassment and been constantly put under house arrest. He has served in numerous organisations at a leadership level, both in the local community of Riverlea, and the rest of South Africa.
Mr. Jacobs played an active role in the Congress of South African Students (COSAS) and the formation of the South African Youth Congress (SAYCO) where he was elected as a National Executive Committee member in 1986.
After the un-banning of the ANC and the SACP, he was appointed to the Internal Leadership core to rebuild both the ANCYL and the SACP in the country.
Mr. Jacobs Was elected as the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) National Treasurer-General from 1990 and served in this capacity till 1994. He is currently serving in the Provincial Executive committee of the ANC in Gauteng , including its Provincial Working Committee, as Head the Communication, Research and Media Unit.
Mr. Jacobs was elected into the Gauteng Provincial Legislature in 1994. Appointed as Member of the Executive Council for Welfare and Population Development in 1996, and served as MEC for Education from 1999 until 2004.
He is currently serving as MEC for Public Transport, Roads, and Works, a position to which he was appointed after the 2004 elections. It is in this position where he also hold ministerial accountability for the biggest public transport infrastructure investment in 40 years in our country; Gautrain.
He is also the head of the Executive (cabinet) Sub-committee on Governance and Administration in Gauteng Provincial Government.
Mr. Jacobs believes in the Vision of a Better Life for All, and a more Just World Order. He is driven by the quest to achieve the Goal of a well Developed and Prosperous Society in South Africa . He believes this dream can only be realised if more of us continue to read, study and acquire the necessary tools and expertise to make Africa a better place. He has chosen Politics, because Politics is about Public Service to Humanity.
He is married to Amelia, blessed with three children, Kaylene, Ernesto and Olivia. |
