Cameron Mackenzie

Cameron Mackenzie (12 August 1960 – 7 July 2021) was a South African politician and Member of Parliament in the National Assembly for the Democratic Alliance from 2014 to 2021. Mackenzie was also the Shadow Deputy Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies.

Early life and education

The son of Donald and Jeanne Mackenzie from Inverness, Scotland, Mackenzie was a grade representative on the Students Representative Council (SRC) at his high school. He refused to join the South African Defence Force for mandatory National Service, and left the country instead. He held a bachelor's degree in Communications Sciences from the University of South Africa, as well as several certificates including Media Freedom and Freedom in Africa from the University of the Witwatersrand. He began his career in financial services, working for Baring Bros Ltd in the UK, ending up as MD of crisis communications and reputation management consultancy, Sentinel 360.

Mackenzie became a parliamentary candidate for the party in the 2014 general elections. He appeared 42nd on the DA's national list thus qualifying for a seat in Parliament as the DA retained its status as official opposition. Soon after, he was appointed by Mmusi Maimane as Shadow Deputy Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services.

Mackenzie was re-elected to parliament in the 2019 general election and was appointed Shadow Deputy Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies by Maimane. He was reappointed to his shadow cabinet role by the newly elected DA leader, John Steenhuisen, in December 2020.

Personal life

MacKenzie was married to Lisa, and they had two older daughters, Emma and Andrea, and a son, Thorne. On 7 January 2020, Mackenzie was shot during an attempted robbery in Dainfern, Johannesburg. After surgery, MacKenzie had almost fully recovered.

Death

MacKenzie died on 7 July 2021 in Fourways due to COVID-19. He was the 14th known Member of Parliament to have died from the virus.