Bafana Freddy Sonakile is a South African advocate and politician who has been a Member of the

North West Provincial Legislature The North West Provincial Legislature is the primary legislative body of the South African province of North West. It is unicameral in its composition, and elects the premier and the provincial cabinet from among the members of the leading party or ...

for the Democratic Alliance since May 2019. He is the leader of the party's caucus in the legislature and the party's provincial chairperson. He had previously served as chief whip of the DA caucus in the legislature and as the deputy provincial leader of the party. Prior to serving in the provincial legislature, Sonakile had worked as a legal advisor at the provincial legislature.

Early life and education

Sonakile was born in Zamdela,

Sasolburg Sasolburg is a large industrial city within the Metsimaholo Local Municipality in the far north of the Free State province of South Africa. Sasolburg is further sub-divided into three areas: Sasolburg proper, Vaalpark (a more affluent cluster o ...

in the Orange Free State. He was raised by his mother. Sonakile obtained an LLB degree from the North-West University. He was then employed as a legal advisor at the

. In 2018, Sonakile was one of the Mail & Guardian's 200 Young South Africans.

Political career

Sonakile is a member of the Democratic Alliance. After the 2019 provincial election, he returned to the provincial legislature, this time as a representative of the DA. He is one of four party representatives. The party's caucus elected him chief whip. On 21 November 2020, Sonakile was elected deputy provincial leader of the DA in the North West, defeating Sello Seitlholo. Sonakile was elected Leader of the DA caucus in the North West Legislature on 1 December 2021, succeeding Winston Rabotapi. At the DA Provincial Conference on 29 July 2023, Sonakile was elected provincial chairperson as Cornel Dryer succeeded him as deputy provincial leader.

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External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Sonakile, Freddy Living people Year of birth missing (living people) Members of the North West Provincial Legislature Democratic Alliance (South Africa) politicians 21st-century South African politicians People from Sasolburg 21st-century South African lawyers North-West University alumni