David Makhura

Manemolla David Makhura (born 22 February 1968) is a South African politician. He is currently serving as the 6th Premier of Gauteng following his election in 2014. He is also serving as a Member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature.[1] Makhura is a member of the African National Congress (ANC). Makhura is also the trustee of the board of the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation.

The Honourable David Makhura MPL
6th Premier of Gauteng
Incumbent
Assumed office 21 May 2014
Preceded by	Nomvula Mokonyane
Member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature
Incumbent
Assumed office 21 May 2014
Personal details
Born	Manemolla David Makhura 22 February 1968 Northern Transvaal Province (now Limpopo)
Political party	African National Congress
Spouse(s)	Mpho Makhura
Children	3
Alma mater	University of London University of Stellenbosch
Profession	Politician

Early life and career

Makhura was born on 22 February 1968 in Buysdorp in the Soutpansberg District of Limpopo.[2]

Between 1984 and 2004 Makhura was involved in student and youth politics in the Azanian Student Movement, the Congress of South African Students (COSAS), and the South African Youth Congress, where he served various leadership positions.[3]

As a young student activist, Makhura joined the underground structures of the banned African National Congress (ANC) and the South African Communist Party (SACP) in 1986 and 1987. During his student years at university, Makhura fought against financial exclusion at tertiary institutions. With pressure from student organizations, like the SA Student Congress (SASCO), of which Makhura had been the secretary-general, ensuring that students received funding.[4]

Makhura served as the Provincial secretary of the ANC in Gauteng from 2001 to 2014.[5]

Gauteng Premier

Makhura became the Premier of Gauteng in 2014 after succeeding Nomvula Mokonyane who went on to become a minister in the cabinet of Jacob Zuma.[6] Makhura was the favourite of the provincial ANC leadership, which had in the past been opposed to President Jacob Zuma's leadership.[7]

Crime

In 2014 after taking office Makhura said that the people of Gauteng needed to wage war on crime to protect their children while speaking at a meeting in the community of Reiger Park as part of the government's, Gauteng Township Economy Revitalisation Programme. Makhura spoke at Reiger Park after the shooting of four-year-old Taegrin Morris who had been killed in a botched hijacking the previous month.[8][9]

In 2016 Makhura laid charges against former head of the Department of Sport, Namhla Siqaza, in a bid to recover more than R800 million in government tenders that had improperly been awarded.[10]

Health

In 2014 the newly built Natalspruit Hospital was officially opened and was christened as the "future of Gauteng Health" by Makhura. The Minister of Health Aaron Motsoaledi, who also attended the opening with Makhura, said that the equipment found inside the hospital was previously only found in private hospitals. The Natalspruit Hospital had cost R 1.7 billion to construct in a period of 8 years and was furnished with 821 beds.[11]

While addressing senior managers, CEOs of Gauteng hospitals, health workers and professionals at the 2016 Khanyisa Service Excellence Awards. Makhura said that although Gauteng had been the best-performing province in 2015, the province could do better.[12]

A survey suggested that 69% of people in Gauteng were satisfied with the provincial healthcare services. Makhura said that it was not good enough and was aiming for 80% satisfactory level by 2019. Makhura said that the Department of Health in Gauteng would spend more than R1.2 billion over three years on the modernisation of public health and R3 billion on equipment.

Employment

Makhura said that he had ambitions to grow the economy of the province, which will create employment for thousands of unemployed people in Gauteng.[13]

Revitelisation of townships

Makhura said that the province was working on a concrete plan to revitalise old townships in the province. Makhura said that in order to change Human Settlements in five years the province was planning to build 140 000 houses around Gauteng.[14]

All those developments would have major socio-economic benefits with regard to decent employment and economic inclusion.[15]

2019 re-election and second term

Following the May 2019 elections, the ANC announced that it had retained Makhura in his position of Premier of Gauteng. His second term as premier commenced on 22 May 2019, after he defeated the Democratic Alliance's Solly Msimanga for the post.[16][17][18]

Personal life

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

References

1. "ANC names new premiers". News24. 20 May 2014.
2. Premier's Profile. Retrieved on 26 March 2019.
3. Makhura’s problem: His provincial committee, Mail & Guardian, 27 July 2018. Retrieved on 26 March 2019.
4. David Makhura, Mr, South African Government. Retrieved on 26 March 2019.
5. New premier selection sparks debate, eNCA, 20 May 2014. Retrieved on 26 March 2019.
6. Mokonyane dumped as Gauteng premier, IOL, 20 May 2014. Retrieved on 26 March 2019.
7. Makhura officially elected premier, EWN, 21 May 2014. Retrieved on 26 March 2019.
8. Makhura wants justice for Reiger Park boy, EWN, 21 July 2014. Retrieved on 26 March 2019.
9. Reiger Park community is not being marginalised – David Makhura, News24, 11 August 2011. Retrieved on 26 March 2019.
10. Premier in bid to recover R800m, Cape Times - IOL, 6 December 2016. Retrieved on 26 March 2019.
11. Watson, Amanda New Natalspruit Hospital opened in Gauteng, The Citizen, 28 August 2014. Ret
12. Premier David Makhura: 2016 Khanyisa Service Excellence Awards. Retrieved on 26 March 2019.
13. Letsoalo, Matuma. Premier promises billions to be injected into Gauteng, 23 February 2015. Retrieved on 26 March 2019.
14. State of the Province Address, IOL, 23 February 2015. Retrieved on 26 March 2019.
15. Province to join forces, Municipal Focus Magazine, 19 March 2015. Retrieved on 26 March 2019.
16. These are the ANC's premier candidates, but no name yet for troubled North West. Retrieved on 13 May 2019.
17. ANC's David Makhura re-elected as Gauteng premier. Retrieved on 22 May 2019.
18. David Makhura gets re-elected as Gauteng Premier. Retrieved on 22 May 2019.
19. 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.