Douglas Gibson

Douglas Harvey Monro Gibson (8 August 1942 – 9 May 2025) was a South African lawyer, politician and diplomat who served as South Africa's ambassador to Thailand between 2008 and 2012. Previously, he had served as chief whip of the opposition from 1999 to 2007, as chairperson of the federal council of the Democratic Party between 1997 and 2000, and as a Member of the National Assembly of South Africa between 1994 and 2008.

Career Gibson was born on 8 August 1942. He qualified as a lawyer by profession. In 1970 Gibson was elected to the Transvaal Provincial Council for the Benoni Constituency as a member of the United Party. He went on to serve in the provincial council for sixteen years. He was also a town councillor in Benoni between 1972 and 1977. In 2000, the Democratic Alliance was formed out of a merger of the DP and NNP. James Selfe was then elected to lead the Democratic Alliance Federal Council.

Gibson continued to serve as chief whip until 2007, when Tony Leon stepped down as DA leader and Sandra Botha was elected to succeed him. Ian Davidson was appointed to serve as chief whip. Gibson was then appointed South Africa's ambassador to Thailand. He officially became ambassador in January 2008 and resigned his seat in the National Assembly. In February 2012, his term as ambassador ended and he returned to South Africa.

Post-political career In retirement, Gibson remained active in the DA and public discourse. In April 2017, he said that former DA leader Helen Zille was "past her shelf life" and urged her to retire after then-DA leader Mmusi Maimane announced that disciplinary proceedings would be taken against her for her controversial tweets on colonialism.

In June 2024, Gibson wrote an opinion piece, in which he announced his support for the DA and other parties forming a coalition government with the ANC after the latter lost its parliamentary majority in the general elections held the previous month.

Death Gibson died on 9 May 2025, at the age of 82.