Mr Anton Bredell

Born and raised in Stellenbosch, Anton Bredell matriculated from Paul Roos Gymnasium in 1983. He went on to study Marketing and Sales Management at the former Cape Technikon, now known as the Cape Peninsula University of Technology.

Anton took up his first job in the Finance Department of Boland Bank in Stellenbosch after which he worked for his father’s family business for the next 16 years. In 1995, he was elected to the Transitional Council of Darling and eventually became the Deputy Mayor of the town and later the Mayor. Because Anton strongly believes in giving back to the community, he started the first Thusong Centre in Darling, which set out to help youth with after-school activities and skills development. The programmes offered at these facilities would later become cornerstones of service delivery by the Western Cape Government.

Anton served as Deputy Mayor of Swartland Municipality and in 2003, became the Executive Mayor of Swartland. In 2006, he was elected as Chairperson of the Western Cape Mayoral Forum, and in 2007, elected as the Western Cape Chairperson of the Democratic Alliance.

After the general election in April 2009, Anton was appointed as Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning in the Western Cape Cabinet, and after the general election in May 2014, he was re-appointed to this position for a second term. Upon completion of this term on 22 May 2019, he had been the longest-serving Minister ever in this portfolio. Premier Alan Winde subsequently appointed him for a third term as the Western Cape Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning.

Known for his inclusive management style and love of public service, Anton has the innate ability to build teams with a clear and united vision and instill a solutions-based mindset. He lives the philosophy to always be humble and thankful, which shows in his work ethic and the way in which he runs his two Western Cape Government Departments.

He's committed to building systems that address poverty, improve municipal governance, and to finding the balance between economic growth and protecting our environment.

He resides in Malmesbury with his wife Michelle and their two sons.

Video: https://youtu.be/6AUR5XpD-ko