Emsley Manne Dipico

Emsley Manne Dipico, activist, politician and former Premier of the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature, was born in  Greenpoint, Kimberley. Emsley Manne Dipico was the first premier of the Northern Cape. He studied at the University of Fort Hare where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree. While at university he got involved in politics. In 1991, he was elected regional secretary of the African National Congress (ANC). In 1994, Dipico became Premier of the Northern Cape. His tenure ended in 2004.

Premier of the Northern Cape Province (until 2004)
Member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the ANC
Provincial Chairperson of the ANC (untill 2003)
Patron of Helen Bishop School for the Mentally Handicapped (since 1994)
Board Member of the Helen Joseph Development Centre, Galeshewe
Patron of the Lions Club, Kimberley (since 1994)
President of St Johns Ambulance, Kimberley (since 1995)
Patron of the Griqualand West Rugby Football Union (since 7 May 1996)
Honorary President of Kimberley Children Choir

Matriculated at St Boniface High School (1978-1979)
BA (Personnel Management), University of Fort Hare, Eastern Cape Province (1984) (Expelled because of political involvement)
Wharton Emerging Economics Leadership Programme, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania (1996)

Worked at De Beers, Finsch Mine (4 months as fitter & helper), dismissed after leading a workers strike (1980)
Employed for odd jobs to augment earnings at home and to pay for his studies at university (Barlows Caterpillars as a cleaner for 4 months) (1980)
Joined underground structures of the ANC in the Eastern Cape (1982)
Executive member of the Azanian Students Organisation (Azaso), Fort Hare (1982-1984)
Detained several times by the then Ciskei Police and Security Branch in the Eastern Cape
Executive member of the Galeshewe Youth Organisation (GAYO) (1982-1984)
Regional Executive member of the Northern Cape United Democratic Front (UDF)
Regional Organiser for National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) (1985-1987)
Detained for a lengthy period during the State of Emergency (1986)
Detained and charged with terrorism, subversion and promoting and furthering the aims of a banned organisation.
Sentenced in the Warrenton Magistrate Court for an effective 5 years in prison.
Spent time at the Diepkloof Prison (Sun City) and Pollsmoor Prison (1987-June 1990)
National Education Co-ordinator of NUM (1990)
ANC Regional Secretary, Northern Cape (1991)
Co-ordinator of Elections Committee ANC (Northern Cape Province) (1993-1994)
Travelled to Canada to get an insight of how premiers operate (1994)
Stepped down from Central Committee of the South African Communist Party (SACP)

Patron for Sowetan/Old Mutual/SABC Community Builder for 2000