Newcastle’s Dr Imran Keeka is making significant strides in the provincial political sphere. This comes as the political veteran was elected as the KZN Legislature Health Portfolio Committee Chairperson.
His appointment was made during a provincial sitting on Tuesday, 9 July 2024, where he and two other Caucus Members from the Democratic Alliance were elected to senior office-bearer roles within the Provincial Legislature.
Looking at his new role, Dr Keeka said, “Healthcare has always been a passion and being in a position that allow me to hold to account the decision makers in KZN crowns what I have always endeavoured to do. Especially from this newly elected seat. I now have an added responsibility to ensure that decisions and the work of the executive authority and the department are geared and synchronised to put citizens first.”
He further noted that the current system is broken. “It will be like trying to fix a broken ambulance while it has a dying patient in it, and while it is moving along to get to a hospital all at the same time. While time is not on our side, it will take time,” added Dr Keeka.
In addition to this, the seasoned local politician was also reappointed as Chief Whip of the DA’s 11-member Legislature Caucus earlier this month.
In a statement, Leader of the DA in the KZN Legislature Francois Rodgers explained that Keeka was born and bred in KZN. He and his family live in Newcastle, where he first served as a DA PR councillor between 2011 and 2014, Chairperson of the Amajuba Constituency from 2012 until 2014, and where he is the current DA Constituency Head.
Furthermore, Dr Keeka first joined the DA KZN Legislature Caucus in 2014 as Health Spokesperson before becoming DA KZN Spokesperson on Education in 2019, where he has worked hard to find solutions to the province’s ailing education system.
“He has also served as a dedicated committee member on KZN’s Public Participation and Petitions (PPP) portfolio committee and Quality of Life (Women, Children and People with Disabilities) standing committee, the latter position being held for the past eight years,” said Rodgers in the statement.
Dr Keeka is also a current member of the DA KZN Provincial Executive Committee, the DA Federal Council, and has been re-elected to serve on the Party’s Federal Council. He is a member of the Provincial Executive and Provincial Disciplinary Committees. He has also served on the party’s Technical Task Team established to form a working relationship between the DA and IFP during the last term.
Moreover, Dr Keeka holds a postgraduate qualification in African Studies and Public Policy. He is also a committee member of several local Muslim organisations on education issues. In 2012, he was elected to represent the profession of Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture at the Allied Health Professions Council of South Africa (AHPCSA) and has served on the executive committee.
As Dr Keeka now expands his horizons in the political sphere, and with his vast knowledge within the government and medical sector, he is surely set to impact the lives of many KwaZulu-Natal residents for the better.
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One Response
He tried for over 10yrs to bring back the Provincial Hospital to Newcastle CBD, but failed dismally. Now that he is in a position of authority, let’s hope he can fulfill his promises to the electorate.