Beverley Schäfer


Beverley Ann Schäfer is a South African politician who currently serves as the Deputy Speaker of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament. She had previously served as the Western Cape Provincial Minister of Economic Opportunities and the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Economic Opportunities, Tourism and Agriculture in the provincial parliament. She was the Cape Town City Councillor for Ward 54 from 2011 to 2014. She is a member of the Democratic Alliance.

Political career

Schäfer served as Head of the Democratic Alliance's Online Marketing and Social Media Department from 2009 until 2011. She was elected the Cape Town City Councillor for Ward 54 in the 2011 municipal election. The ward included areas such as Green Point, Mouille Point, Robben Island, Sea Point, Fresnaye, Bantry Bay, Clifton and northern parts of Camps Bay.
She served as a councillor until she was elected to Western Cape Provincial Parliament in the 2014 provincial election. She took office as a Member on 21 May 2014 and was subsequently appointed Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Economic Opportunities and whip for the Democratic Alliance in the legislature.
On 19 October 2018, Premier Helen Zille announced that Schäfer would succeed Alan Winde as Provincial Minister of Economic Opportunities. She was sworn in on 1 November 2018 by Western Cape Judge President John Hlophe.
Schäfer was elected Deputy Speaker of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament on 22 May 2019, succeeding Piet Pretorius.