Pauline Williams

Pauline Jeanette Williams is a retired South African politician. A member of the African National Congress, she was elected to the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature in 2004. In 2009, she was appointed as the Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Sport, Arts and Culture. She left the legislature in 2014, only for her to return in 2015. She was then made MEC for Transport, Liaison and Safety in 2016. Williams was briefly out of the post in May 2017. In February 2018, she was made the MEC for Environmental Affairs. Williams left the legislature again in 2019.

Early life and education Williams was born in Springbok in South Africa's former Cape Province. In 1978, she earned a senior certificate from Northern Paarl High School. She was re-appointed to this role in 2013 by the newly elected premier, Sylvia Lucas. For the 2014 general election, Williams was ranked 22nd on the ANC's list. The ANC only won 20 seats, meaning that Williams had lost her seat. Lebogang Motlhaping replaced her as MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture. However, she returned to the provincial legislature on 27 October 2015. In an executive council reshuffle in March 2016, she was appointed as the MEC for Transport, Liaison and Safety, succeeding Martha Bartlett.

Ahead of the ANC's elective conference in May 2017, she emerged as a supporter of Zamani Saul's campaign for provincial chair. On the eve of the conference, Lucas (also a candidate for provincial chair) removed Williams from the executive. The ANC condemned Lucas' decision. On 1 June, Lucas rescinded her decision, returning Williams back to the executive council. In February 2018, she was appointed MEC for Environmental Affairs.

Williams retired from politics in 2019.