Minister Parks Tau
National Executive Committee (NEC) Member of the African National Congress (ANC)
Mr Parks Franklyn Mpho Tau is the former Deputy Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs. He is a former Member of the Executive Council (MEC) responsible for the Department of Economic Development, Environment, Agriculture and Rural Development in the Gauteng Provincial Government. He is also a former provincial treasurer of the ANC in Gauteng and former chairperson of the Gauteng Legislature Portfolio Committee on Finance.
Minister Tau has completed studies in Public Management from Regenesys Business School, and holds a Master’s degree in Public Policy and Management from the University of London.
Historical reflection
Minister Tau is a seasoned local government practitioner and is a former councillor in the Johannesburg Metro. In 2000, Minister Tau was appointed as Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Development Planning, Transportation, and Environment. From 2003 to 2011, Minister Tau served as MMC of the Finance and Economic Development portfolio in the City of Johannesburg. He was elected as the Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, where he served from 2011 to 2016. He was the second democratically elected Mayor after Mr Amos Masondo.
Minister Tau has served in many organisations during his years as a public representative.
- He is a former president of the South African Local Government Association (SALGA).
- He is also former president of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG).
- He was appointed co-chairperson of the UN High-Level Independent Panel, established to oversee the effectiveness of the UN-Habitat programme.
- He is a member of the World Resource Institute and the Coalition for Urban Transitions.
- He is a former chairperson of SA Cities Network.
- He is a former deputy chairperson of the UN Special Advisory Committee on Safer Cities.
- He is a member of the C40 Climate Change Network Steering Committee.
- He is a former co-president of Metropolis – a network of metropolitans established to build resilient and sustainable cities.
In 2019, Minister Tau was appointed to the position of Deputy Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs. He served in this position until he was appointed to the GPG in December 2020. Minister Tau has served as part of the ANC Greater Johannesburg Regional Executive Committee as regional secretary and regional chairperson. He is the former provincial treasurer in Gauteng and current member of the ANC NEC. He was appointed and currently serves as the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) in the 7th Administration.
Minister Tau can be reached on social media via; Twitter – @TauParks, Facebook – Mpho Parks Tau
Please direct Enquiries/correspondence to: Ministry@thedtic.gov.za
