Michael James Ellis (born 29 September 1946) is a retired

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

n politician and educator, who served as Deputy Chief Whip of the opposition Democratic Alliance in 1999-2011, and as the party's provincial leader in

KwaZulu-Natal KwaZulu-Natal (, also referred to as KZN and known as "the garden province") is a province of South Africa that was created in 1994 when the Zulu bantustan of KwaZulu ("Place of the Zulu" in Zulu) and Natal Province were merged. It is locate ...

between 2006 and 2009. Ellis is one of the party's longest serving Parliamentarians, having first entered parliament as a candidate of the pro-Democracy

Progressive Federal Party The Progressive Federal Party (PFP) ( af, Progressiewe Federale Party) was a South African political party formed in 1977 through merger of the Progressive and Reform parties, eventually changing its name to the Progressive Federal Party. For it ...

in 1987. Prior to that he was President of the Natal Teachers' Society, and served as headmaster and deputy headmaster at several

schools.

Background

Ellis was born in

Pietermaritzburg Pietermaritzburg (; Zulu: umGungundlovu) is the capital and second-largest city in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It was founded in 1838 and is currently governed by the Msunduzi Local Municipality. Its Zulu name umGungundlovu ...

, and attended Northlands Boys High School and the

University of Natal The University of Natal was a university in the former South African province Natal which later became KwaZulu-Natal. The University of Natal no longer exists as a distinct legal entity, as it was incorporated into the University of KwaZulu-N ...

. He graduated with a BA in History and Political Science, and also obtained a University Education Diploma. He later also obtained a B.Ed degree. Upon graduating, Ellis worked as a teacher at

Beachwood High School Beachwood High School is a four-year college preparatory public high school located in Beachwood, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland. It is part of the Beachwood City School District. Recognition Beachwood has earned three U.S. Department of Education Bl ...

, which later became Northwood School. In 1976 he took up a post as deputy headmaster at Penzance Primary School, and after spending two years as deputy headmaster at Kingsway High School, returned to Penzance to become the school's headmaster. In 1984 he returned to another of his former schools, Beachwood, as head teacher. He was also appointed President of the Natal Teachers' Society.

Parliamentarian

In 1987 Ellis left teaching to enter a career in politics. He won a seat in the House of Assembly in the Durban North constituency, under the banner of the Progressive Federal Party, and then won the seat again in 1989 under the party's new name, the

Democratic Party Democratic Party most often refers to: *Democratic Party (United States) Democratic Party and similar terms may also refer to: Active parties Africa *Botswana Democratic Party *Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea *Gabonese Democratic Party *Demo ...

. Ellis was reelected to Parliament in 1994, in the country's first democratic election. In 1995 he became a party whip in the National Assembly, and he was appointed Deputy Chief Whip in 1999 - a position he held for more than a decade. During his tenure in Parliament, Ellis served on numerous portfolio committees, including Health, Education and Environmental Affairs and Tourism. Ellis retired from Parliament in 2011, and was given a warm farewell by parliament, from opposition and government MPs alike.

Family

Mike's eldest son, John Ellis, is a well-known South African singer-songwriter and guitarist. His debut solo album, Come Out Fighting, released in June 2010, has a strong political message. It was dubbed 'Protest Songs' by the local press. Songs such as 'A Luta Continua', 'Government Song', 'Rebels' and 'Rant' speak about being a white South African post-Apartheid.

References

Offices held

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ellis, Mike Living people Democratic Alliance (South Africa) politicians People from Pietermaritzburg 1946 births Members of the National Assembly of South Africa Members of the House of Assembly (South Africa)