Quick Facts
| Full Name | Mpho Franklyn Parks Tau |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 6 June 1970 |
| Place of Birth | Orlando West, Soweto, South Africa |
| Current Role | Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition |
| Political Party | African National Congress (ANC) |
| Spouse | Philisiwe Twala-Tau |
| Education | Master’s in Public Policy and Management (University of London) |
| Previous Roles | Deputy Minister, MEC, Mayor of Johannesburg |
Early Life
Mpho Franklyn Parks Tau was born on 6 June 1970 in Orlando West, Soweto. His journey into politics began in his teenage years, joining the Congress of South African Students (COSAS) at the age of 14. During the turbulent 1980s, he became a prominent student activist and was detained multiple times under apartheid laws. At 19, he was elected president of the Soweto Youth Congress and later became a member of the ANC Youth League.
Early Career
Tau’s political career gained momentum in 1994 when he was elected regional secretary of the ANC in Johannesburg. He served in the Johannesburg Metropolitan Council, holding key roles like overseeing Developmental Planning, Transportation, and Finance portfolios.
Political Career
Mayor of Johannesburg (2011–2016)
In 2011, Tau succeeded Amos Masondo as Mayor of Johannesburg. During his tenure, he championed public transport expansion, a ZAR 100 billion infrastructure program, free citywide Wi-Fi, and the Jozi@Work initiative. Despite these achievements, he lost the mayoralty to Herman Mashaba of the DA in 2016.
Provincial Roles
From 2019, Tau served in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature as MEC for Economic Development before moving to national politics.
National Leadership
In 2019, he was appointed Deputy Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs. In 2023, he returned to Parliament and was later appointed Minister of Trade, Industry, and Competition in 2024.
Educational Background
Tau holds a Master’s in Public Policy and Management from the University of London and has completed studies in Public Management at Regenesys Business School.
Philanthropy
Tau has been involved in numerous charitable initiatives, including the Mayoral Charity Golf Day and the Every Child Birthday Party, events aimed at supporting vulnerable communities.
Personal Life
Parks Tau is married to Philisiwe Twala-Tau, and the couple has been involved in several professional and charitable projects together.