19 Facts About Sylvia Lucas

Sylvia Elizabeth Lucas was born on 22 April 1964 and is the current Deputy Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces in the Republic of South Africa, after having taken office on 23 May 2019.

Sylvia Lucas was elected and inaugurated as the successor to Hazel Jenkins.

Sylvia Lucas was born on 22 April 1964, and grew up in Upington in the Northern Cape.

Sylvia Lucas attended the Carlton Van Heerden High School in Upington where in the early 1980s, she first became involved in political activities.

Sylvia Lucas later took part in the Rosedale rent boycotts, and was part of the delegation to the Transitional Council, to ensure the provision of prepaid electricity to communities when they could not afford conventional electrical power.

Sylvia Lucas is a former typist for the National Party who joined the ANC in 1992.

Sylvia Lucas joined the African National Congress as an ordinary branch member in 1992.

Sylvia Lucas served as the first female chairperson of the ANC in the Siyanda region from 2001 to 2004.

In 2000, Sylvia Lucas was elected to serve in the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature.

Secretary-General of the ANC, Kgalema Motlanthe, announced in 2003, that Sylvia Lucas's name was fourth on the ANC candidate list for the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature.

Sylvia Lucas participated in ANC international study tours in the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States.

Accordingly, Jenkins technically remained premier and Sylvia Lucas was sworn in on the same day as Grizelda Cjiekella's successor as acting premier of the province.

Sylvia Lucas was officially elected and sworn in as premier of the province on 23 May 2013.

Sylvia Lucas delivered her inaugural speech as premier on 30 May 2013.

Sylvia Lucas was re-appointed premier on 20 May 2014, by the National Executive Committee of the African National Congress, following South Africa's 7 May 2014 general election.

Sylvia Lucas was the only woman appointed as a premier in the eight ANC-run provinces.

Sylvia Lucas left the office in May 2019 to become the Deputy Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces.

Premier Sylvia Lucas came under media scrutiny when it was revealed that she spent R53,000 on fast food and personal groceries, with her government-issued credit card, in the first ten weeks of her taking up the post.

Sylvia Lucas became popularly nicknamed the "Fast Food Premier" in media reports and newspaper headlines.