Premier Ebrahim Rasool

This Office is responsible for rendering support services to the Premier of the Western Cape. Its functions are to:

• Provide executive support to the Premier.
• Handle the operational, communications and administrative matters of the Office.

Dr Lionel Louw leaves the post Head of the Department of Social Development at the University of Cape Town to head up the Premier's Office. He is President of the South African Council for Social Service Professions and has been an ordained Christian Minister for more than 30 years. He has a solid struggle history and is a well-known figure in the public life of the Western Cape.

Mr Clayton Wakeford is the former Head of Communications and Marketing in the Department of Social Development (formerly the Department of Social Services and Poverty Alleviation) and prior to that he managed communications for the ANC Caucus Western Cape in the period 1999 to 2001 whilst the ANC as in opposition. He is an Anglican lay minister and a human rights activist specialising in advocacy around HIV/AIDS, inter-faith relations and gender.

Ms Shado Twala has recently joined the Premier's Office and Management Team as his new Spokesperson. She has been involved in a broad spectrum of cultural events, media and communications and hosts a jazz slot on Radio 702. Ms Twala has been intrinsically involved in groundbreaking musical extravaganzas like the Cape Town Jazz Festival and International Jazz Festival at Jozzi Gardens.

Ms Christine Plaatjie has extensive experience in administrative and secretarial duties in the public and developmental sectors, having formerly held the position of Private Secretary to the National Minister of Public Works, Executive Secretary to the Secretary General of Disabled People South Africa and more recently as the Personal Assistant to the Chief Director Safety Net Development, Department of Social Development (formerly Department of Social Services and Poverty Alleviation).