20 Facts About Solly Malatsi

Mmoba Solomon "Solly" Malatsi was born on 22 December 1985 and is a South African politician who is currently serving as Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies in the Government of National Unity since July 2024.

Solly Malatsi has been a Member of the National Assembly of South Africa since May 2014.

Solly Malatsi has served in the national leadership of the Democratic Alliance as a deputy federal chairperson since 2023.

Solly Malatsi has been the party's national spokesperson since August 2022, previously holding the position from June 2018 to November 2020.

Solly Malatsi has held posts in the DA's shadow cabinet.

Solly Malatsi was born in Ga-Dikgale in the former Transvaal Province.

Solly Malatsi matriculated from Phiri Kolobe High School and went on to obtain a Bachelor of Administration from the University of Limpopo.

Solly Malatsi is a graduate of the DA's Young Leaders Programme.

Solly Malatsi became a parliamentary researcher for the DA in 2008.

Solly Malatsi then worked as a spokesperson for the Western Cape Provincial Minister of Transport and Public Works, Robin Carlisle, from 2009 to 2011.

Solly Malatsi was later appointed as Shadow Minister of Human Settlements.

In June 2018, Solly Malatsi was appointed as national spokesperson for the DA, succeeding Phumzile van Damme.

Solly Malatsi was re-elected for a second term as an MP in May 2019.

On 24 November 2020, Solly Malatsi stepped down as the DA's national spokesperson.

Solly Malatsi was reappointed to the shadow cabinet as Shadow Minister in the Presidency in the following days.

On 18 August 2022, Solly Malatsi was appointed as the DA's national spokesperson, succeeding Siviwe Gwarube, who became the new chief whip of the DA's parliamentary caucus.

Solly Malatsi was elected as one of three deputy federal chairpersons of the DA at the party's Federal Congress in 2023.

In July 2024, Solly Malatsi was sworn in as the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies.

In November 2024, Solly Malatsi withdrew the South African Broadcasting Corporation SOC Ltd Bill, widely known as the SABC Bill, citing concerns that it does not address the public broadcaster's funding model and that it grants the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies excessive influence over board appointments.

The chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies in the National Assembly, Khusela Diko, criticised Solly Malatsi's decision, describing it as a potential "death knell" for the SABC.