Marianne Merten
‘Anyone who believes in his innocence has no trouble sleeping. I sleep like a baby.” That’s how outspoken senior Western Cape New National Party member and former poverty relief MEC Peter Marais reacts to his sacking.
He is awaiting formal charges ahead of a disciplinary hearing, having been fired by Premier Gerald Morkel for bucking the party line and speaking out against the provincial coalition between the NNP and the Democratic Party.
Still occupying the cheerful, yellow- walled office allocated to him as MEC on the first floor of the provincial administration building, Marais appears ready for the political battle of his career.
But, just a little earlier he sat grim- faced in the chamber as an ordinary backbencher with hands folded on his lap as the African National Congress withdrew its motion of no confidence in the provincial coalition – a motion which had, at least in some part, been caused by his dismissal.
Marais is no stranger to controversy as he has refused to meekly toe the party line without, at least, some robust discussions. He believes it’s crucial to build a strong government in the Western Cape.
“Isn’t this what we should be concentrating on instead of oppositions? That’s what I said. Here we are the government. I say strengthen the government. To do that bring money to the province. The NNP has power. The ANC has money at central level.”
Stress levels may be up, but that’s how he likes it. The Nat with the booming singing voice, who has a loyal following and large popular support on the Cape Flats, remains cheerful and even jokes that his creditors have phoned him to offer help.
“The support from the public has been magnificent. I sometimes feel it was more than I deserved. I never knew so many people loved me. Actually it is great to know that people say: ‘Nice to know you.'”
But there are regrets. And it is leaving poverty relief in the hands of someone else after having promised people to deliver.
“I know what poverty is ’cause I grew up in it. There are diamonds out there in the shacks,” he says. “Now it’s just another case of another politician making promises. I never leave anything unfinished or half done.”
One of the earliest political battles Marais remembers was over the setting up of a poverty desk. He asked both former state president FW de Klerk and later constitutional negotiator Roelf Meyer to help poor black and coloured people just as the former National Party had helped improve the lives of the poor whites in the past. It did not happen.
De Klerk and Meyer may have left the political scene, but Marais remains.
And so does his legacy.
Among it are 20 women from Genadendaal who are producing clothes for a leading quality chain store; others in George and Beaufort West who grow and sell hydropo- nic vegetables; and 15 farmers in the Karoo who can now feed their families.
“I can take a man with standard four or five and make him an entrepreneur,” he says. “If it’s unemployment, who gets fired first? The boss or the boy?”
Marais has three weeks to leave his roomy office. On one wall hangs a copy of one of former president Nelson Mandela’s speeches, signed: “Best wishes to a competent and forthright colleague.” Next to it is Madiba’s handwritten lunch invitation of July two years ago for “a plate of breyani”.
Marais pulls out a book on Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat from the shelf. He fondly remembers the hour spent with the Middle East leader, who signed the book, at a Cape Town hotel.
Marais says his wife of more than 35 years, Bonita, five children and four grandchildren have been very supportive. The family adults have met to discuss the week’s events.
“I have a loving wife. Being fired as a minister is very bearable,” Marais says. “No matter where I might find myself I will continue to fight for the poor.”