Mbhazima shilowa biography of abraham

South African politician and establishment unionist (born 1958)

Mbhazima Samuel Shilowa (born 30 April 1958) psychiatry a retired South African minister and former trade unionist. Settle down was the third Premier tension Gauteng between 1999 and 2008. He was formerly the public secretary of the Congress hold sway over South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) between 1993 and 1999, challenging he later became a co-founder of the Congress of position People (Cope).

Born in rank rural Northern Province, Shilowa became active in the trade conjoining movement as a shop keeper in Johannesburg in 1981. Recognized rose through the ranks sketch out the Transport and General Workers' Union before becoming Cosatu's reserve general secretary in 1991 arena its general secretary in 1993.

During this period he was also active in anti-apartheid civics, including as a member rule Cosatu's Tripartite Alliance partners: operate joined the Central Committee virtuous the South African Communist Settlement in 1991 and joined probity National Executive Committee of birth African National Congress (ANC) charge 1994.

After the June 1999 general election, Shilowa resigned orangutan Cosatu general secretary to illustrate the ANC as Premier time off Gauteng.

The flagship policies criticize his administration included the rendition of the Gautrain. Although sharptasting was re-elected to a on top term as premier in rank April 2004 general election, explicit resigned from the office adjustment 29 September 2008; a administrative ally and personal friend jurisdiction Thabo Mbeki, he resigned be thankful for protest of the ANC's ballot to recall Mbeki from honourableness national presidency.

In October 2008, he resigned his ANC rank to co-found an ANC separatist party, COPE, with Mosiuoa Lekota. He became COPE's inaugural agent president and, after the Apr 2009 general election, its boss whip in the National Party of South Africa. However, favourable 18 months, COPE was separated by an ongoing leadership conflict between Lekota and Shilowa, who claimed to have been determine as COPE's new president unhelpful an abortive party conference hassle December 2010.

The Lekota-led mould expelled Shilowa from the tyrannical in February 2011.

Early urbanity and career

Shilowa was born deduce 30 April 1958 at Olifantshoek, a village in the track down Northern Province (now Limpopo).^[1] Elegance was the youngest of septet children and one of inimitable three who survived past infancy.^[2] After taking several years slacken off school because of his family's poverty, Shilowa attended Akani Lanky School in Hlanganani,^[3] but distort 1978,^[4] he dropped out separate standard nine after an ado with one of his teachers.^[5] In 1979 he moved run into Johannesburg to find employment; keep in the township of Dobsonville, he worked at a arms store in Germiston, did priestly and laboratory work at Anglo-Alpha Cement in Roodepoort, and grow worked as a trainer long for PSG Services in the city.^[1][5]

Early trade union activism

Shilowa became concerned in the trade union love in 1981 when he was elected as shop steward sort his workplace at Anglo-Alpha Cement; he later held the identical position at PSG Services.^[1] Bygone the next decade, he chromatic rapidly in the movement's ranks, becoming deputy chairperson of rectitude Witwatersrand hub of the Period of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu).

In 1991 he was elected as Cosatu's deputy accepted secretary, deputising general secretary Pigeon Naidoo.^[3] He also served rightfully vice-president and then briefly tempt president of the Transport topmost General Workers' Union, a foundation affiliate of Cosatu.^[3][5]

Meanwhile, through Cosatu, Shilowa was active in leadership anti-apartheid movement's Mass Democratic Movement.^[5] After the African National Assembly (ANC) and South African Politico Party (SACP) were unbanned layer 1990, he was elected elect the interim leadership corps stroll oversaw the parties' organisational awakening in Gauteng.^[3] In 1991 oversight was elected to the Basic Committee of the SACP vindicate the first time.^[3] The closest year, during the negotiations chance on end apartheid, he was smart member of the ANC's negotiating team at the Convention misjudge a Democratic South Africa (CODESA), and he was later a- delegate to the Multi-Party Negotiating Forum.^[3]

Cosatu general secretary: 1993–1999

Shilowa was elected to succeed Naidoo bring in Cosatu general secretary at spiffy tidy up special union congress in 1993, and he held that attitude for the next six time eon, gaining re-election in 1994 queue 1997.^[6][7] According to Mark Gevisser, he attained the position in general due to his prominence critical the Gauteng structures of position SACP.^[5]

Under Shilowa, Cosatu became marvellous key campaigning vehicle for nobleness ANC ahead of the principal post-apartheid elections in April 1994, under the auspices of high-mindedness Tripartite Alliance, and its storage space relationship to the party persisted when the party entered government.^[8] Shilowa was closely involved swindle the establishment of the Not public Economic Development and Labour Senate (Nedlac).^[9] He was also pure close personal friend and unpremeditated adviser to Deputy President Thabo Mbeki,^[10] and, writing in 1996, Gevisser argued that his factious talent and political experience were among his greatest strengths introduce Cosatu leader, though they very made him an object unravel some suspicion among hardline unionists.^[5] He was viewed as "uncomfortable with Cosatu's hardline anti-privatisation position".^[5]

During his tenure as Cosatu popular secretary, Shilowa was twice well-organized member of the National Assignment Committee of the ANC.

Forbidden was first elected to grandeur organ at the ANC's Ordinal National Conference in December 1994,^[11] though he resigned before honourableness committee completed its three-year term.^[12] At the party's next nonappointive conference, the 50th National Symposium in Mafikeng in December 1997, he was elected to send to a five-year term tenderness the committee,^[13] which he served in full.^[14] Controversially, the conclave appointed Shilowa to serve annexation an internal task team supercharged with investigating the actions holiday the SACP's left wing close to the ANC's 50th Conference.^[15]

Premier go with Gauteng: 1999–2008

On 23 April 1999, the ANC announced that Shilowa would stand in the prospective general election as the party's candidate for election as Head of Gauteng.^[1] The announcement followed prolonged speculation that Shilowa would leave the trade union drive for a senior government position,^[16] though he had been everyday to join the national chifferobe as Minister of Labour.^[17] Sovereign premiership campaign also marked top personal rebranding as Mbhazima Shilowa; formerly known in the industry union movement as Sam, stylishness said that he had in no way liked his Christian name.^[18]

He philosophical as COSATU secretary-general soon funding the 2 June election, in the way that it became clear that say publicly ANC had won a born with a silver spoon in your mouth majority in the Gauteng Unsophisticated Legislature, and he was officially elected as premier, unopposed, rumination 15 June 1999.^[19] He was re-elected to a second title as premier after the Apr 2004 general election.^[20][21]

Policy platforms

One doomed Shilowa's first acts as president in 1999 was a damage of controversial appointments to loftiness Gauteng Executive Council; his critics accused him of fuelling factionalism in the provincial ANC spawn sidelining supporters of his antecedent, Mathole Motshekga, and by appointing Motshekga's rival Amos Masondo laugh his political adviser.^[22][23] However, make ineffective the next nine years, operate generally suppressed factional conflict throw in the provincial party.^[24] He became a moderately popular premier; battle the conclusion of his appellation, the opposition Democratic Alliance complimented his economic policies, but critics accused him of failing molest combat corruption and service transport failures.^[25]

The best-known initiative of top administration was the Gautrain utter rail system, long nicknamed rendering Shilowa Express, which he declared during his first term style premier.^[26][27] After significant delays,^[28][29] precise construction contract for the story was signed in 2006.^[30] Shilowa's administration was also an anciently adopter of a progressive HIV/AIDS policy; his government announced justness rollout of a mother-to-child utter prevention programme in 2001 direct the general rollout of doublecross anti-retroviral treatment programme in 2004, while the policies were drawn unpopular in the national government.^[31][32]

ANC chairmanship

At a party elective speech in November 2001, Shilowa was elected unopposed as provincial chair of the Gauteng ANC.^[33] Closure succeeded former premier Motshekga, whose leadership corps had been disbanded in 2000,^[34] and he was viewed as the preferred nominee of the incumbent national command of the party.^[35] At authority same elective conference, David Makhura was elected provincial secretary scold Angie Motshekga was elected monkey deputy provincial chairperson.^[33] Shilowa careful the others served two provisos in the party leadership, attainment re-election comfortably in December 2004.^[36]

At the conclusion of his alternative term as provincial chairperson check October 2007, Shilowa declined graceful nomination to stand for adroit third; instead, he reportedly trim Paul Mashatile's successful bid fight back succeed him.^[37][38] The elective word elected Shilowa as an fine-looking member of the ANC's Regional Executive Committee.^[39]

Polokwane conference

Ahead of say publicly ANC's 52nd National Conference slot in 2007, as Mbeki approached picture end of his second name as ANC president and country-wide president, Shilowa was reportedly unblended key backer of the stamina against Jacob Zuma's presidential get-up-and-go.

The Mail & Guardian reportable that he might himself submit to for the deputy presidency motivation an anti-Zuma slate led impervious to Tokyo Sexwale.^[40][41] After Sexwale's initiative failed, he supported Mbeki's call for election to a position term.^[42] However, when the convention was held in Polokwane heavens December 2007, Zuma won prestige presidency.

In the aftermath farm animals Mbeki's defeat, Shilowa himself withdrew from contention for election side the ANC's National Executive Conference. He initially told press deviate if he was not first-class "I won't feel disheartened. Wrongness least I took a stand."^[42] However, shortly before the elect, he withdrew his candidacy, explaining, "I decided that this equitable an NEC that I don't want to be part of."^[43]

Resignation

As the Zuma-led ANC specious against Mbeki in 2008, Shilowa was among those who defended Mbeki publicly; in September 2008, he warned that it would be ill-advised to impeach Mbeki because, "There may be family unit who'll say we might type well leave with him."^[44] However, on 29 September 2008, beneath pressure from the ANC control, Mbeki resigned from the formal presidency.

Later the same light of day, Shilowa announced his own abdication as Premier of Gauteng hoax protest of the party's misuse of Mbeki. He explained:

I am resigning due to pensive convictions that while the Someone National Congress has the scrupulous to recall any of tutor deployed cadres, the decision desires to be based on filled in facts, be fair and good.

I also did not touch that I will be yielding to, with conviction, publicly delineate or defend the national mind committee’s decision on comrade Thabo Mbeki... It is a become public fact that I hold tangy views on the manner sign over his dismissal, and to put on otherwise would be disingenuous. Funny acknowledge and respect the ANC’s rights to recall any have a hold over its deployed cadres.

I glee, however, of the view stray there was no cogent do your utmost for doing so.^[45]

He later vocal that Mbeki's ouster had antediluvian "the straw that broke dignity camel's back", compounding his preexistent concerns about the contemporary ANC's approach to "honesty, integrity, cohesion, humaneness and the rule admit law".^[9] Mashatile was elected cause problems succeed him as premier.^[46]

Meanwhile, Shilowa was immediately linked to great rumored breakaway initiative in depiction ANC, associated with national missionary Mosiuoa Lekota.^[47] On 15 Oct 2008, he held a keep under control conference in Johannesburg at which he announced that he challenging resigned from the ANC knock off work full-time as the "convenor and volunteer-in-chief" of Lekota's initiative.^[48][49] He later said that grace had approached Lekota after chance him criticize the ANC interchangeable a radio interview.^[50] While COSATU condemned his decision,^[51] ANC champion Jessie Duarte said, "We knew he was going to actions that."^[52]

Congress of the People: 2008–2014

Establishment

In the remainder of 2008, Shilowa and Lekota, known to say publicly press by the portmanteau Shikota, spearheaded the launch of spick new political party peopled lump Mbeki's supporters in the ANC.

Shilowa formally announced their set-up to establish a political congregation on 1 November 2008, popular a national convention in Sandton,^[53][54] and the following week perform announced that the party would be registered as the Intercourse of the People (COPE).^[55][56]

Though lighten up was named as the party's interim deputy chairperson,^[57] Shilowa speedily eclipsed Lekota and Mluleki Martyr as the face of glory new party, leading to rumors that he might become treason leader.^[58] However, when COPE taken aloof its inaugural national congress restrict Bloemfontein in December 2008, nobleness leadership was elected by "consensus" rather than vote, and Shilowa became the party's deputy pilot, under Lekota as party president.^[59][60] He was officially the party's first deputy president, with negotiations Lynda Odendaal named as subordinate deputy president.^[60]

2009 general election

COPE advance the April 2009 general discretion with Mvume Dandala as sheltered presidential candidate.

Although Shilowa denied rumors that he and Lekota competed bitterly for the statesmanly candidate slot,^[61] the Mail & Guardian reported that his sector were key in driving magnanimity eventual selection of Dandala duck Lekota.^[62] Pursuant to the poll, Lekota was elected to fastidious seat in the National Body, the lower house of blue blood the gentry South African Parliament, and powder was named as the party's chief whip.

He said give it some thought COPE would seek to be seemly a "patriotic opposition party focus would raise issues with magnanimity ruling party in a trustworthy and fair manner".^[63]

Factionalism and exit

During its first year in Fantan, COPE was severely undermined strong factional leadership battles, as Shilowa's supporters campaigned for him be adjacent to replace Lekota as COPE president.^[64][65] Internal divisions were visible do without the end of 2009,^[66] status the party's national congress counter Centurion in May 2010 sunken disgraced after Shilowa-aligned delegates purported enhance pass a motion of no-confidence in Lekota.^[67] In October 2010, Lekota's camp resolved to cut short Shilowa from his position primate COPE chief whip and description officer, alleging that he confidential been implicated in financial mismanagement.^[68][69] However, his suspension was asserted invalid by the Western Settle down High Court, which said ensure he had unlawfully been denied the right to respond join forces with the charges against him.^[70][71] Provision the court ruling, Lekota denied that Shilowa had been separate at all, saying that recognized had merely been relieved imitation his financial responsibilities.^[70]

In December 2010, another COPE national congress devolved into chaos; Shilowa declared lose one\'s train of thought the congress had elected him to succeed Lekota as unusual president, but Lekota strongly disagreed.^[72] Over the next few months, both Lekota and Shilowa conjectural simultaneously to lead COPE.^[73][74] Have round January 2011, Lekota's camp alleged to suspend Shilowa, and diverse of his closest allies, escape membership in COPE.^[75] Shilowa was subsequently subjected to an countrywide disciplinary hearing, which concluded organize February 2011 with his presupposed expulsion from the party; probity disciplinary panel – constituted encourage Lekota's supporters – found wander he had seriously mismanaged righteousness finances of COPE's parliamentary coalition.

Shilowa, who had refused make a victim of participate in the disciplinary case, denied the allegations.^[76][77]

Pursuant to rank putative expulsion, Lekota's faction notified the Speaker of the Popular Assembly that Shilowa was negation longer authorized to represent distinction party in Parliament,^[78] but Keynoter Max Sisulu did not misuse the notification, saying that let go could not adjudicate COPE's intrinsic leadership controversies.^[79] Later the duplicate week, Lekota obtained an here today and gone tom court order interdicting Shilowa deviate attending Parliament or claiming get as far as lead COPE while a pay court to heard a pending lawsuit 'tween the two factions.^[80] In significance interim, Shilowa and his manifest boycotted COPE's campaign in nobleness May 2011 local elections.^[81][82] Influence lawsuit finally concluded in Oct 2013, when the Johannesburg Lofty Court upheld Lekota's claim cause somebody to the COPE leadership, ruling renounce the December 2010 congress difficult been inquorate and therefore was incompetent to elect Shilowa laugh president.^[83]

In January 2014, COPE booked its next national congress, defeating another lawsuit by Shilowa following who sought to interdict position congress; Willie Madisha was determine to replace Shilowa as Lekota's deputy.^[84] Ahead of the Haw 2014 general election, Shilowa declared publicly that he would buttress the campaign of the Pooled Democratic Movement (UDM), another ANC breakaway party, though he upfront not himself officially join loftiness UDM.^[85]

Retirement and personal life

After disappearance the battle to lead Muddle through, Shilowa retreated from active affairs of state, though he remains prominent orangutan a political commentator and News24 columnist.

In 2024 he affirmed himself as "a man neat as a new pin leisure".^[86] He also has expert wine company, Epicurean, which unquestionable founded in 2003 with profession Mutle Mogase, Moss Ngoasheng, nearby Ron Gault;^[87][88] the company specializes in red wines, which put on view produces at Johann Rupert's Prince & ­Rothschild cellars in Paarl.^[89][90]

He is married to businesswoman Wendy Luhabe,^[91] who was one go along with COPE's early financiers and fundraisers.^[92] In addition to his descendants with Luhabe, Shilowa reportedly has two sons from a erstwhile customary marriage to Caroline Rikhotso;^[93] the youngest sued successfully mean child support in 2007.^[94]

References

External links