David Makhura

Last updated

2001–2018

During his first State of the Province Address, delivered in Thokoza in June 2014, Makhura said that the three pillars of his administration would be radical economic transformation, spatial transformation, and economic modernisation, and he linked all three pillars to the revitalisation and mainstreaming of township economies. [24] After a summit on township economies in October 2014, Makhura announced a plan to invest R1 billion in township infrastructure over the next five years, towards the goal that economic growth in townships should account for 30 per cent of the province's economic growth during his administration. [25] The so-called Township Economy Revitalisation Programme remained a cornerstone policy of Makhura's second term and it was generally well received. [26] One major prong of the strategy was funneling government procurement funds to township enterprises; between 2014 and 2018, the Gauteng Government's procurement spend on contracts with township enterprises increased from R600 million to R17 billion. [27] [28] During his February 2018 State of the Province Address, Makhura expanded the township programme to include scrutiny of foreign-owned businesses in townships; he announced a drive to inspect and "shut down" any such businesses operating illegally. [29]

Another initiative announced in Makhura's first State of the Province Address was the establishment of a panel to review the impact of the e-tolling policy. [30] In later years he became an unequivocal critic of the policy. [31] [32] Indeed, in November 2018, Makhura joined civil society organisations in a march on the Union Buildings that called on the national government to scrap e-tolls; he said that he was marching in his ANC capacity, not his government capacity, and "Those who are in government will have to be put under pressure by the ANC." [33] However, the e-tolls remained in place throughout Makhura's premiership, and some commentators were disappointed by his failure to drive change in the policy. [34]

Makhura's other economic policies included the establishment of special economic zones. [35] In all, during his first term as premier, the Gauteng economy attracted R199 billion in new foreign direct investment and R53 billion in new government investment in infrastructure, and employment in the province rose from 4.4 million to 5.1 million. [36]

Healthcare scandals

For many observers, [37] the largest scandal of Makhura's administration was the Life Esidimeni scandal: the 2016 revelations that dozens of psychiatric patients had died in under-resourced and unlicensed private care homes after being moved to those homes as part of the policy of deinstitutionalisation adopted by the Gauteng Department of Health under the leadership of Makhura's provincial health minister, Qedani Mahlangu. In his report on the scandal, health ombudsman Malegapuru Makgoba found that Makhura had not been responsible for the deinstitutionalisation policy or aware of the fatalities. [38] On Makgoba's recommendation, Makhuru and national Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi appointed an independent task team to lead a turnaround intervention in the Gauteng Department of Health, [39] but the task team's report and recommendations, finalised in 2018, were not made public. [40] In May 2018, the opposition Democratic Alliance tabled a motion of no confidence in Makhura's leadership, framed as a means of exerting accountability for the Life Esidimeni tragedy; the motion failed by 38 votes to 27 in the ANC-controlled legislature. [41] In later years Makhura continued to deny responsibility for the tragedy. [42]

Makhura was also premier during the Covid-19 pandemic. At the height of the pandemic, he was broadly commended for his "on-the-ground style of leadership". [43] However, in 2021 and 2022, the province was wreaked by corruption scandals relating to PPE procurement. Most notably, a Special Investigating Unit probe into procurement corruption at Tembisa Hospital in Tembisa, Gauteng resulted in the murder of Babita Deokaran in August 2021. The Tembisa investigation was later widened to include pre-pandemic contracts, and a 2022 Mail & Guardian investigation suggested that Makhura had known of and concealed the alleged misconduct of a hospital executive. [44] Makhura denied any knowledge of such misconduct. [45] According to Makhura, subsequent investigations into the provincial health department uncovered "structural and systemic problems", including a "culture of irregular processes", in health procurement in the province. [46]

Party chairmanship

At the outset of his premiership, Makhura officially remained the provincial secretary of the ANC, but a party elective conference in October 2014 elected him to the position of deputy provincial chairperson. [47] Mashatile was re-elected as provincial chairperson at the same conference, and Hope Papo was elected to succeed Makhura as provincial secretary. [48] Makhura declined a nomination to challenge Mashatile for the chairmanship at the conference. [49] In subsequent years, the pair continued to work closely together, though there were reports that their relationship grew strained in 2016 when Mashatile returned to Gauteng from the national government to serve in Makhura's Executive Council. [50]

In December 2017, Mashatile was elected as national treasurer-general of the ANC, and Makhura became acting provincial chairperson in his stead. The provincial party held its next elective conference in Irene six months later; on 21 July 2018 Makhura was officially elected as ANC provincial chairperson, running unopposed after Sputla Ramokgopa declined a nomination to stand against him. [51] After a hard-fought contest with Lebogang Maile, Panyaza Lesufi was elected to succeed Makhura as deputy provincial chairperson. [52] Maile's faction, which dominated the newly elected Provincial Executive Committee, was viewed as hostile to Makhura's leadership. [53]

After Makhura won re-election to his second term as premier in 2019, he said publicly that he intended to serve only one term as ANC provincial chairperson. [11] He therefore did not stand for re-election in 2022, though he acknowledged that the election of a new party leader might create two centres of power, making it politically untenable for him to stay on as premier. [54] At the next elective conference on 27 June 2022, Lesufi was elected as provincial chairperson after another close contest with Maile. [55] [56]

Resignation

In early September 2022, Makhura announced that he would resign from the premiership once the ANC had selected his successor, though he denied reports that Lesufi's provincial executive was forcing him to resign. [57] He announced his resignation on 4 October, [58] [59] and Lesufi was elected to succeed him on 6 October. [60] There was speculation, ultimately unfounded, that Makhura would seek a top leadership position in the national ANC. [61] [62]

Luthuli House: 2023–present

In December 2022, Makhura attended the ANC's 55th National Conference at Nasrec, which elected him to a five-year term on the party's National Executive Committee. He received 1,772 votes across roughly 4,000 ballots, making him the tenth-most popular member of the 80-member committee. [63] At the committee's first meeting in February 2023, Makhura was named as the party's head of political education, a position that would involve full-time work at ANC headquarters at Luthuli House. [64] He was also appointed as deputy chairperson of the drafting subcommittee, under subcommittee chairperson Thoko Didiza, [64] and as chairperson of a new subcommittee on coalition governance. [65] In October 2023, he was additionally appointed to replace David Masondo as principal of the O. R. Tambo School of Leadership, the ANC's political school. [66]

Masondo pushed for significant internal reforms in these positions, adopting President Cyril Ramaphosa's platform of party "renewal". [67] In April 2023, he published a set of guidelines for future coalition negotiations, [68] and the Daily Maverick reported that in November 2023 he tabled a proposal recommending that the ANC should not form governments with either the Economic Freedom Fighters or the Patriotic Alliance. [69] [70] After the May 2024 general election, in which the ANC lost its majority in both the Gauteng Provincial Legislature and the National Assembly, he and secretary-general Fikile Mbalula led the ANC's delegation to the negotiations that resulted in the formation of the Government of National Unity. [71] In the aftermath of the election, in October 2024, he launched a new five-module course in political education that would henceforth be mandatory for all ANC members. [72]

Personal life

Makhura is a trustee of the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation. [73] [74] His wife is Mpho Makhura; [75] they have three children. [1]

On 10 July 2020, he announced that he had tested positive for COVID-19, becoming the third premier in one week to test positive for the virus. [76]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Premier's Profile". Gauteng Province. Archived from the original on 8 June 2019. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  2. "Author of his own destiny, Gauteng premier David Makhura". Sunday Times. 17 June 2018. Archived from the original on 18 June 2018. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 "David Makhura, Mr". South African Government. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  4. The Shopsteward. Umanyano Publications for the Congress of South African Trade Unions. 1998. p. 12.
  5. "Making their mark in the new millennium". The Mail & Guardian. 22 December 2000. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  6. Gumede, William (2002). "The young lions who miaow". Focus. 27. Helen Suzman Foundation. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  7. "Ancyl leader Gigaba re-elected". News24. 7 April 2001. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  8. "Old guard backs Gigaba". The Mail & Guardian. 12 April 2001. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  9. "ANC Gauteng moves to eliminate internal rifts". The Mail & Guardian. 16 November 2001. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  10. "Challengers for Shilowa". The Mail & Guardian. 26 October 2001. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  11. 1 2 Khumalo, Juniour (19 February 2022). "Makhura says it's his last term as Gauteng ANC chair, has no national secretary-general ambitions". News24. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  12. Grootes, Stephen (2 February 2016). "Mashatile and Makhura will lead the ANC cavalry to defend the capital". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  13. "David Makhura". People's Assembly. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  14. "David Makhura is Gauteng's new premier". The Mail & Guardian. 20 May 2014. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  15. "Zuma to tackle Gauteng premier issue". News24. 18 May 2014. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  16. "MEC Mekgwe likely to be Gauteng premier". The Mail & Guardian. 20 May 2014. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  17. "New premier selection sparks debate". eNCA. 20 May 2014. Archived from the original on 30 June 2018. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  18. Grootes, Stephen (20 May 2014). "ANC's premieres its Provincial Premiers' list". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  19. Grootes, Stephen (7 September 2022). "The man, his role & his future: David Makhura at the crossroads that may go all the way to the Top Six". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  20. "DA welcomes new Gauteng premier". News24. 21 May 2014. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  21. "Makhura: ANC's last Gauteng gasp". The Mail & Guardian. 26 June 2014. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  22. Tandwa, Lizeka (13 May 2019). "These are the ANC's premier candidates, but no name yet for troubled North West". News24. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  23. "ANC's David Makhura re-elected as Gauteng premier". eNCA. 22 May 2019. Archived from the original on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  24. "Gauteng set to focus on revitalisation of 'township economy', says premier". Business Day. 27 June 2014. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  25. Nicolson, Greg (7 October 2014). "Makhura: Long live township economies, long live!". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  26. "Gauteng leads the way with plan to stimulate township businesses". Business Day. 6 October 2020. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  27. "Gauteng supports township enterprises". The Mail & Guardian. 9 March 2018. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  28. Nicolson, Greg (22 February 2016). "Makhura: Promising game-changers, not fairytales". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  29. "Gauteng plans to give its townships a business and lifestyle facelift". The Mail & Guardian. 26 February 2018. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  30. "David Makhura promises to review e-tolling". News24. 27 June 2014. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  31. "Makhura and e-tolls: A lesson in repetition". The Mail & Guardian. 18 February 2019. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  32. "ANC in Gauteng: For whom does the electorate toll?". The Mail & Guardian. 12 July 2019. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  33. Mitchley, Alex (2 November 2018). "OUTA, ANC Gauteng and civil society groups march to Union Buildings". News24. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  34. Mthethwa, Ayanda (23 February 2020). "A year on, many of Premier Makhura's SOPA promises are unfulfilled". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  35. Khumalo, Juniour (25 February 2022). "What Makhura wants to be remembered for when his tenure as Gauteng premier comes to an end". News24. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  36. Mabasa, Nkateko (18 February 2019). "David Makhura talks of big achievements in Gauteng despite Life Esidimeni tragedy". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  37. Grootes, Stephen (11 July 2018). "Discussing politics with Gauteng Premier David Makhura". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  38. Nicolson, Greg (3 February 2017). "Life Esidimeni 94: Makhura and Motsoaledi – what did they know and when did they know it?". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  39. Nicolson, Greg (26 November 2017). "Gauteng Health: Team to save provincial department announced". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  40. Heywood, Mark (27 October 2020). "How to steal a health department and get away with murder". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  41. Mabasa, Nkateko (15 May 2018). "Premier Makhura easily defeats motion of no confidence". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  42. Pikoli, Zukiswa (24 May 2023). "Former Gauteng premier Makhura denies he was part of decision to terminate contract with healthcare provider". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  43. "Fighting Covid-19: The rise of the premiers". The Mail & Guardian. 16 April 2020. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  44. Koko, Khaya (25 November 2022). "David Makhura 'protected' hospital boss". The Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  45. Bhengu, Cebelihle (9 September 2022). "Gauteng premier denies benefitting from improper procurements at Tembisa Hospital". News24. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  46. Heywood, Mark (27 November 2020). "Gauteng premier David Makhura promises lifestyle audits and a crackdown on corruption in the health department". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  47. "Mashatile re-elected as ANC's Gauteng chair". The Mail & Guardian. 4 October 2014. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  48. "Mashatile retains ANC Gauteng top post". Business Day. 4 October 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  49. "Mashatile re-elected ANC Gauteng chair". News24. 4 October 2014. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  50. "Concerted push to fill ANC vacancies". The Mail & Guardian. 12 January 2018. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  51. "Acting no more: Makhura elected ANC Gauteng chair". The Mail & Guardian. 21 July 2018. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  52. Hunter, Qaanitah (22 July 2018). "David Makhura's unopposed ANC Gauteng victory – another beginning, another election to be fought". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  53. "Makhura's problem: His provincial committee". The Mail & Guardian. 27 July 2018. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  54. Mahlati, Zintle (27 June 2022). "Makhura says, 'like Mbeki', he will step down as Gauteng premier if asked by ANC". News24. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  55. Mahlati, Zintle (27 June 2022). "'Unity' top five emerges at ANC Gauteng conference as Lesufi takes top post". News24. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  56. "Panyaza Lesufi elected new ANC provincial chairperson for Gauteng". SABC News. 27 June 2022. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
  57. Masuabi, Queenin (4 September 2022). "Gauteng Premier David Makhura: 'I was not pushed out or recalled'". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  58. Ndaba, Baldwin (5 October 2022). "Gauteng Premier David Makhura resigns, Panyaza Lesufi next in line". IOL. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
  59. Madia, Tshidi (4 October 2022). "David Makhura to step down as Gauteng premier". EWN. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
  60. Lekabe, Thapelo (6 October 2022). "Panyaza Lesufi elected Gauteng premier". The Citizen. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  61. Tandwa, Lizeka (7 September 2022). "Murmurs of Makhura in ANC top six are 'smoke and mirrors'". The Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  62. Marrian, Natasha (8 September 2022). "Ramaphosa primed for ANC re-election". Business Day. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  63. "Full list: ANC NEC members". eNCA. 22 December 2022. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  64. 1 2 "Members of deployment committee and other committees appointed – ANC NEC". Politicsweb. 26 February 2023. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  65. Mahlati, Zintle (23 February 2023). "ANC tasks Makhura, Nkadimeng, Mokonyane with solving party's coalition conundrum". News24. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  66. Masuabi, Queenin (20 October 2023). "Mbalula denies axing David Masondo over Zanu-PF criticism". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  67. Bakharia, Umamah (3 August 2024). "David Makhura: renewal is do or die for the ANC, otherwise it will perish". The Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  68. Grootes, Stephen (24 April 2023). "Makhura's ANC coalitions guidelines are breath of fresh air". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  69. Grootes, Stephen (29 October 2023). "Potholed and perilous coalition roads facing the ANC's stuttering electoral truck". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  70. Masuabi, Queenin (24 October 2023). "ANC NEC supports cutting ties with 'dictatorial' EFF and pro-Israel PA". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  71. Haffajee, Ferial (3 June 2024). "Democracy 2024 (Day Two) – 15 days to reshape a country". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  72. "ANC introduces compulsory political education to tackle factionalism, unethical behaviour". The Mail & Guardian. 28 October 2024. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  73. "Know your premier: David Makhura". SABC News. 22 May 2019. Archived from the original on 22 April 2024. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  74. "Board Members". Ahmed Kathrada Foundation. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  75. "First Lady raises more than a million". Polokwane Observer. 11 August 2018. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  76. Smillie, Shaun (11 July 2020). "David Makhura has become the third premier to contract Covid-19 as infections surge in his province". IOL. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
David Makhura
Premier David Makhura meets editor (2).jpg
Makhura in March 2019
6th Premier of Gauteng
In office
21 May 2014 5 October 2022
Political offices
Preceded by Premier of Gauteng
2014 2022
Succeeded by