Chris Pappas was born in Pietermaritzburg and graduated with distinction from the University of Pretoria with a degree in Town and Regional Planning. During his time at the university, he got involved in politics and joined the Congress of the People (COPE) and was elected to the Student Representative Council (SRC) as a member of Academic Affairs, later on serving as the interim SRC President. After graduation, he was employed as a Development Economist.
The Democratic Alliance in KwaZulu-Natal offered him a position as a staff member. He then became employed as as the Operations Manager for the Durban South area, covering Chatsworth to uMkomaas. Later, Chris ran as a candidate for the Musgrave, Overport, and Sydenham area on Durban’s Berea. He was successfully elected as the youngest ward councillor in eThekwini at that time.
In the eThekwini council, Chris served on both the Economic Development and Planning Committee and the Town Planning Appeals Committee. During his time as a councillor, he was elected Chairperson of the DA’s Central Durban Constituency. In 2019, he led an election campaign for the metro, which was the only metro where the DA increased its voter share.
Currently, Chris serves as the DA’s Deputy Leader in KwaZulu-Natal, and in 2019, he was elected as the youngest member of the KwaZulu Natal Legislature. In 2021, he was officially elected as the first DA mayor in KwaZulu Natal. Additionally, he serves as the the Chairperson of the Executive Committee and the Economic Development and Planning Committee. In 2022, Chris was selected by the U.S. Department of State as one of six mayors to take part in an International Leadership Programme focused on strengthening democracy, promoting human rights, and combating corruption.
On Youth Political Participation
“The political and social systems often fail to accommodate the type of involvement young people desire, discouraging their participation in shaping the change they seek”.
The WYDE Civic Engagement Network of Young Decision-Makers unites young leaders under 36 years old who are active in politics and decision-making roles, aiming to enhance youth political participation. Members, hailing from Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean, will collaborate with peers and Club de Madrid Members to shape global agendas through Policy Labs, fostering informed collective action.
The WYDE Civic Engagement project is a component of the Women and Youth in Democracy Initiative (WYDE) by the European Commission. The project aims to empower youth voices, foster international cooperation, and address the gaps in evidence on youth political engagement. More info on the project can be found on EPD’s website.
