Meshack Radebe

Bonginkosi Meshack Radebe (1948/1949 – 6 February 2021) is a South African politician who represented the African National Congress (ANC) in the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature until May 2019. He was formerly Deputy Speaker in the legislature and also served as a Member of the Executive Council (MEC) in KwaZulu-Natal from 2009 to 2014. He was known for his role in mediating the political violence between the ANC and Inkatha in Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal in the 1990s.

Meshack Radebe
Member of the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Legislature
In office
until 7 May 2019
Member of the KwaZulu-Natal Executive Council for Agriculture, Rural Development and Environmental Affairs
In office
November 2011 – May 2014
Premier
Preceded byLydia Johnson
Succeeded byCyril Xaba (for Agriculture and Rural Development)
Member of the KwaZulu-Natal Executive Council for Social Development
In office
May 2009 – November 2011
PremierZweli Mkhize
Succeeded byWeziwe Thusi
Personal details
Born1948 or 1949
Maqongqo, Natal Province
Union of South Africa
Died(2021-02-06)6 February 2021 (aged 72–73)
Political partyAfrican National Congress

Early life and political career

Radebe was born in 1948 or 1949 and was from Maqongqo in Natal province.[1] In the early 1990s, he lived in Hammarsdale in Natal and was a prominent figure in the nearby township of Mpumalanga, where he helped mediate the ongoing political violence between ANC supporters and supporters of Inkatha, later renamed the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP).[2][1][3][4] In 1993, Olusegun Obasanjo awarded Radebe and his IFP counterpart, Sipho Mlaba, the inaugural Africa Peace Award, organised by peace organisation ACCORD.[5] Radebe and Mlaba were also awarded honorary doctorates by the University of Natal.[1][5] IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi later heralded Radebe as a "champion of reconciliation".[6]

Legislative career

After the end of apartheid, Radebe represented the ANC in the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Legislature. After the 2009 general election, newly elected Premier Zweli Mkhize appointed him to the KwaZulu-Natal Executive Council as MEC for Social Development,[7] an office Radebe retained until a reshuffle in November 2011, when he was appointed MEC for Agriculture, Rural Development and Environmental Affairs.[8] Mkhize's successor, Senzo Mchunu, retained Radebe in the latter portfolio until the 2014 general election.

In the 2014 election, Radebe was re-elected to final term in the provincial legislature, ranked ninth on the ANC's provincial party list.[9] He was not reappointed to the Executive Council by Mchunu, but was instead elected as Deputy Speaker of the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature, serving under Speaker Lydia Johnson.[10] The opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) and IFP disdained his appointment, with the DA saying it exemplified "a trend whereby failed MECs from the ruling party come to the legislature to take up positions at the speaker's office".[11] In 2015, Radebe was elected to the Provincial Executive Committee of the ANC's KwaZulu-Natal branch.[12]

Resignation and death

Radebe did not stand for re-election to the provincial legislature in the 2019 general election,[9] but instead resigned to focus on running his charitable foundation.[1] He remained an outspoken ally of former President Jacob Zuma,[13][14] who said after his death that Radebe had been his "best friend".[2] Radebe died on 6 February 2021 after a week in hospital.[1]

References
  1. "ANC stalwart, Dr Meshack Radebe, has died". Witness. 7 February 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  2. "Zuma pays farewell tribute to 'selfless leader' Meshack Radebe". Herald. 13 February 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  3. Mokhoali, Veronica (6 February 2021). "Ex-KZN MEC Meshack Radebe dies". EWN. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  4. "KZN politician Meshack Radebe dies". Sunday Times. 6 February 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  5. "Tribute to a peacemaker: Dr Meshack Radebe". ACCORD. 9 February 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  6. "Tributes pour in for peacemaker". News24. 17 February 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  7. "Statement by Dr Zweli Mkhize at his inauguration as the Premier of the Province of KwaZulu-Natal". South African Government. 11 May 2009. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  8. "Changes to the KZN cabinet – Zweli Mkhize". Politicsweb. 15 November 2011. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  9. "Bonginkosi Meshack Radebe". People's Assembly. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  10. Hans, Bongani (27 May 2014). "No place in KZN cabinet for Ina Cronjé". IOL. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  11. "DA: Speaker's seat is filled with failed MECs". News24. 21 May 2014. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  12. "Super Zuma says new ANC KZN leadership to hit the ground running". Politicsweb. 10 November 2015. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  13. Mavuso, Sihle (24 May 2019). "Jacob Zuma prosecuted and persecuted by his people, says Meshack Radebe". IOL. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  14. Monama, Tebogo (6 February 2021). "'A monumental loss': Tributes pour in for ANC stalwart and 'peacemaker' Meshack Radebe". News24. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
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