The African National Congress’s troubleshooter in KwaZulu-Natal, Dumisani Makhaye, is set for a national deployment.
Makhaye, currently KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Housing, allegedly played a crucial role in dissuading KwaZulu-Natal workers from taking to the streets during last year’s anti-privatisation strike. More recently he has been accused of trying to undermine and split Congress of South African Trade Unions structures in the province.
There is talk in the ANC structures that the party leadership may be positioning him for the post of ANC deputy secretary general.
The ANC’s current deputy secretary general, Thenjiwe Mtintso, is unlikely to stand for re-election at the ANC’s upcoming national conference, for health reasons. She also declined nomination to the South African Communist Party’s central committee at its congress in July this year.
Makhaye (47) is apparently seen as being equipped for the role once played by the late Steve Tshwete and Peter Mokaba, who proved useful to the party leadership by keeping the left or potential challengers to the presidency in line.
He was not elected to the ANC’s KwaZulu-Natal executive at the party’s recent provincial conference. He was quoted as saying he had declined nomination, while hinting at the possibility of a national deployment.
Party insiders confirmed that Makhaye was destined for a national deployment, but expressed doubts about him replacing Mtintso.
“We have to take account of gender representativeness in the top five office-bearers’ position,” said a senior official.
Makhaye told the Mail & Guardian that the party’s national deployment committee and national executive committee decided where members should serve.
He said, however: “My wish is to stay in KwaZulu-Natal — this province has not been liberated.”
Makhaye, who serves on the ANC’s national executive committee, is known to have risen in meetings on several occasions to defend President Thabo Mbeki’s position. His loyalty to Mbeki dates back to the mid-1980s when he served under him in the ANC’s department of information and publicity in Lusaka.
Seen as a “Stalinist” by the left, Makhaye has endeared himself to the party leadership by tackling troublesome communists such as the South African Communist Party deputy general secretary Jeremy Cronin.
Makhaye, a member of the SACP until 1991, is still held in high regard by some communists for his perceived grasp of Marxist theory. Others disagree, referring to his “tendency to become vulgar and abusive while debating issues”.
His name has become synonymous with outrageous remarks and gestures.
Makhaye once wrote a play on racism and read it out in the KwaZulu-Natal legislature.
He also made a statement that “white farmers” had no one but themselves to blame if they were murdered and their farms razed to the ground. This endeared him to many ANC Africanists.