Winkie Direko is fondly remembered as a teacher and a mother figure, even if she later reached the lofty heights of provincial premier, a senator and a member of the first Judicial Service Commission.
Around Bloemfontein she was called “Mistress” and she lived up to the name. Whenever anyone introduced themselves, she would, frowning, immediately ask: “By the way, in what standard were you in my class?”
Direko, who passed away on February 17 at the age of 82, was a teacher for more than 50 years until she went to Parliament as a then senator in what is now the National Council of Provinces.
She taught home economics at Sehunelo High School in Mangaung and later became the principal. Direko’s tenure as Free State premier from 1999 to 2004 does not stand out in any way and she was replaced at the end of her term. But few recall that some of the departments in the province were under section 100 administration orders when she took over — the same orders being invoked in some provinces now due to poor administration. When she left, they were back in line and she had started the Free State Development Fund.
Mary Kodisang, who was chief financial officer at the time, says Direko was a good leader because she was willing to admit her mistakes and ask for advice.
“She was frank and genuine. She could become angry and shout at you, but we knew that she had high standards for civil servants. She did not like stories or lies and reminded us that we were not doing our communities a favour by delivering services.”
Direko returned to the National Assembly in 2004 and served until 2009. In 2007 she was caught up in factional battles in the province when she admitted funding a group of ANC members from Bothaville who had taken the party to court over list fights for local government positions. After paying R20 000 to the group’s lawyers, she said she funded the members out of compassion.
Their houses were about to be attached because they could not afford to pay their attorney after they lost their case against the ANC.
As a backbencher Direko was adept at howling and screaming at opposition speakers. She sat on the first Judicial Service Commission, which grilled candidates and selected arguably the country’s finest legal minds to make up the first group of Constitutional Court judges.
ANC chief whip Mathole Motshekga said: “… she was our elder, a mother from whom we learnt a great deal. We shall always remember and be guided by her political wisdom and discipline, which were the hallmarks of her service to the people.” — Rapule Tabane
Isabella Winkie Direko, politician, born November 27 1929; died February 17 2012