Chris Hunsinger
Chris Hunsinger is a South African politician, a Member of the South African Parliament since 2014, Caucus Whip and Treasurer with the Democratic Alliance. He was appointed by the then Leader of the Opposition Mmusi Maimane on 5 June 2019 and retained by the current Leader of the Opposition John Steenhuisen in October 2019 as the Shadow Minister of Transport. Hunsinger was re-elected to Parliament on 6 June 2019. He speaks and writes about issues related to consumer and commodity needs in transport, including safety, planning, finance and management with South African road, rail, maritime, and aviation service providers.
Major achievement
Hunsinger earned recognition for his key role in the dramatic consolidation of all opposition parties in the last sessions of Parliament in Dec 2018 during consideration of the 'RABS Bill'. Referred to as; "...a stunning turnaround" this speech in the National Assembly of Parliament in RSAhighlighted the deficiencies of the Road Accident Benefit Scheme Bill, 2017 & presented a strong case of irrational design & manipulated process in the 2nd Reading Debate on 4 December 2018, whereas RABS intended to replace the Road Accident Fund Act 56 of 1996. With all other opposition parties following paragon, approval did not succeed on the day & was finally defeated a second time on 6 December 2018 & a further attempt was successfully stemmed via crafty application of NA Rules. Despite amendments to the Bill tabled by Hunsinger being ‘negatived’ at the sitting, all opposition parties walked out – rendering the House inquorate & unable to vote on its second reading & the Bill lapsed as a result.The Bergrivier Local Government have achieved three consecutive clean audit outcomes since Hunsinger's appointment as constituency head in Februarie 2017 and in 2019 the municipality was placed 8th in South Africa, 3rd in Western Cape Province and 2nd in the Western Region in the Good Governance Africa Performance Index conducted amongst 213 municipalities, using data on 15 indicators across three themes: administration, economic development & service delivery.
Life
Member of the National Assembly Portfolio Committee on Transportcovering:- Road:
- Rail:
- Maritime:
- Aviation:
As public figure, Hunsinger takes time in sharing his activities with 6 431 Facebook & Twitter followers & also manages his own blog: Chris Hunsinger.co.za with 50 740 hits & 34 articles while maintaining an average attendance rate of over 90% in formal Parliamentary engagements & sessions.
Politics
Before being promoted to Parliament, Hunsinger was a Councillor in the Swartland Local Municipality. He was MMC responsible for Finance & Economic Development during the time when the Council received three consecutive "clean" audit outcomes. In 2011/12, 2012/13, 2013/14, one of only two municipalities out of 256 in SA to have accomplished this standard and improved its standing. Also, improving on the independent Local Economic Development Maturity Assessment from 14th position in 2011 to 1st in 2014 out of 30 municipalities in the Western Cape.He led the Swartland bid team in 2013 that won international finance for the first VPUU and RSEP projects in South Africa for rural areas. The unique proposal was recognised as a leading bid in terms of concept, innovative content and standard of submission. He also served as Provincial Executive Council member for the Western Cape in South African Local Government Association and as provincial chairman of three working groups on the provincial and national level: Municipal Infrastructure & Planning, Municipal Trade & Services, and Climate Change & Environmental Planning.
As Political Leader in the Democratic Alliance, Hunsinger has served as a member of the Federal, Provincial and Regional Councils in the Swartland constituency. As Western Region Campaign Manager in the 2014 national elections, involving 10 Municipal Constituencies, the Democratic Alliance improved with 23% support compared to the previous National election in 2009 and in the Swartland Constituency – the 65% DA support of the 2011 local government elections was increased to 67% – retaining the reputation as top performing constituency in South Africa in local, provincial and national election outcomes. In the 2016 Local Government Elections, he was responsible for target tracking in the Western Region, which saw an increase of 19% over the 2011 election results.
As a ward councillor in Swartland Local Municipality, Hunsinger improved support for the Democratic Alliance in ward 10 from 68% in 2006 to 93% in 2014 with a 73% voter participation.
While serving as Constituency Head for Matzikama, the Democratic Alliance won 7 out of the 8 wards in the 2016 LGE. Prior to this he also served as Constituency Head for Phillipi during which time profitable gains were recorded in support for the DA. Since February 2017, he serves as Political Leader and Constituency Head for Bergrivier, one of the only local government regions under DA governance, in full control of all wards of the Constituency since January 2019.
Civic contribution
In 2006, Hunsinger was honoured with the International Blue Heart Award in Berlin, Germany, for his contribution towards promoting various international youth partnerships between South Africa and Germany since 1997 – and in particular for the establishment of the annual International Sondeza Youth Campin Ganzekraal, South Africa, in 2004. He was the 14th international and first African recipient of this prestigious prize and remains personally involved in volunteer projects and programmes, which kicked off in 2005. Teenagers from the mainly rural Western Region of Western Cape have participated annually among 20 invited countries in leadership development programs at the Eurocamp in Kiez-Harz, Güntersberge, Germany, Belgium, and South Africa since 1999, benefitting more than a thousand teenagers. In 2016, Hunsinger received honorary life membership of USAPHO, a registered non-profit community organization, served as Executive Board member of The Character Company, and Governance Director of SASH – The SA Society of Hope