Dean Macpherson
{{Short description|South African politician (born 1985) and Minister for Public Works and Infrastructure}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = The Honourable
| name = Dean Macpherson
| honorific-suffix =
| image = Dean Macpherson 2024.jpg
| office = Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
| president = Cyril Ramaphosa
| term_end =
| predecessor = Sihle Zikalala
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1985|2|2}}
| birth_place = Durban, South Africa
| death_date =
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| nationality = South African
| spouse =
| party = Democratic Alliance
| relations =
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| caption =
| image_size = 200px
| office2 = Shadow Minister for Trade and Industry
| termend2 = 2019
| termstart2 = 2017
}}
Dean William Macpherson (born 2 February 1985) is a South African politician who is currently serving as Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure since June 2024. He is a Member of Parliament for the Democratic Alliance and Provincial Chairperson in KwaZulu-Natal. Macpherson is from Durban, KwaZulu-Natal and currently resides in Umhlanga.
Career
Macpherson served his first full term in the National Assembly from 2014 to 2019 and was re-elected to the National Assembly on 8 May 2019 to begin his second term. On the 27th of March 2021, he was elected as the Chairperson of the Democratic Alliance in KwaZulu-Natal.
In 2020, he had a 64% committee attendance rate as a Member of Parliament (30 meetings out of 47).{{Cite web |title=Dean William Macpherson |url=http://www.pa.org.za/person/dean-william-macpherson/ |access-date=2021-10-08 |website=People's Assembly |language=en}}
He was the Shadow Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry from 2014 to 2017 before being promoted to Shadow Minister for Trade and Industry from 2017 to 2019.{{Cite web |date=4 September 2014 |title=Job losses in first quarter due to seasonal factors: Zuma |url=http://www.salabournews.co.za/index.php/component/content/article/70-labour-news/20114-job-losses-in-first-quarter-due-to-seasonal-factors-zuma.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006124603/http://www.salabournews.co.za/index.php/component/content/article/70-labour-news/20114-job-losses-in-first-quarter-due-to-seasonal-factors-zuma.html |archive-date=6 October 2014 |access-date=4 October 2014 |work=South African Labour News}}{{Cite web |author=Crotty, Ann |date=24 August 2014 |title=Credit watchdog let off hook in parliament |url=http://www.timeslive.co.za/businesstimes/2014/08/24/credit-watchdog-let-off-hook-in-parliament |access-date=4 October 2014 |work=The Sunday Times}}
From 2009 to 2014, Macpherson was the elected Ward Councillor for Durban North in the eThekwini Municipality where he served as the Chief Whip of the party until 2013.
He was appointed Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure in President Cyril Ramaphosa's national unity government. He promptly announced a halt on spending on accommodation and office space for members of parliament, proposing that the money instead be spent on infrastructure.{{Cite web |last=Maliti |first=Soyiso |title='Those days are over': Public works minister to cut spending on accommodation for Cabinet members, MPs |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/politics/those-days-are-over-public-works-minister-to-cut-spending-on-accommodation-for-cabinet-members-mps-20240704 |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=News24 |language=en-US}}
Controversy
On 7 October 2021, Macpherson issued a statement apologizing and explaining his role in the controversial creation and placement of "racist" posters ahead of South Africa's 2021 Local Government Election.{{Cite web|title=DA removes KZN posters|url=https://www.da.org.za/2021/10/da-removes-kzn-posters|access-date=2021-10-08|website=Democratic Alliance|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Masuabi|first=Queenin|title=DA apologises for controversial posters while ANC heads to the SAHRC|url=https://www.news24.com/citypress/Politics/da-apologises-for-controversial-posters-while-anc-heads-to-the-sahrc-20211007|access-date=2021-10-08|website=Citypress|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Ndou|first=Clive|title=DA removes "racist" Phoenix posters|url=https://www.news24.com/witness/News/Durban/da-removes-racist-phoenix-posters-20211007|access-date=2021-10-08|website=Witness|language=en-US}}
The two posters read in order "The ANC called you racists" and "The DA calls you heroes" and were erected in Phoenix, KwaZulu-Natal. Phoenix was a hotspot for violence and racial tension during the 2021 South African unrest with 36 people losing their lives during looting and acts of vigilantism that was largely based on racial profiling.{{Cite web|title=GARETH VAN ONSELEN: The DA's Phoenix posters|url=https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/opinion/columnists/2021-10-07-gareth-van-onselen-the-das-phoenix-posters/|access-date=2021-10-08|website=BusinessLIVE|language=en-ZA}}{{Cite web|title=DA and ANC butt heads over 'racist v heroes' campaign posters in Phoenix|url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2021-10-05-da-and-anc-butt-heads-over-racist-v-heroes-campaign-posters-in-phoenix/|access-date=2021-10-08|website=TimesLIVE|language=en-ZA}}{{Cite web|title=DA posters dishonest and inflammatory|url=https://www.heraldlive.co.za/opinion/2021-10-07-da-posters-dishonest-and-inflammatory/|access-date=2021-10-08|website=HeraldLIVE|language=en-ZA}}{{Cite web|title='We feel so insulted' - Mom of boy killed in Phoenix hurt by DA 'heroes' poster|url=https://www.702.co.za/articles/429016/we-feel-so-insulted-mom-of-boy-killed-in-phoenix-hurt-by-da-heroes-poster|access-date=2021-10-08|website=702|language=en-ZA}}
Ntwenhle Mhlongo, the mother of Sanele Mngomezulu, one of the victims who was killed in Phoenix, said they felt insulted by the DA's campaign in an interview with Radio 702:
"As one of the Phoenix massacre victims, we feel so insulted by what the DA is saying... How can you call someone a hero, someone who just murdered someone in cold blood, who had no weapon?"{{Cite web|title='We feel so insulted' - Mom of boy killed in Phoenix hurt by DA 'heroes' poster|url=https://www.702.co.za/articles/429016/we-feel-so-insulted-mom-of-boy-killed-in-phoenix-hurt-by-da-heroes-poster|access-date=2021-10-08|website=702|language=en-ZA}}In his statement, Macpherson admitted the posters were "unsanctioned" by the DA's leadership or party structures and arranged for the removal of the posters.{{Cite web|title=DA removes KZN posters|url=https://www.da.org.za/2021/10/da-removes-kzn-posters|access-date=2021-10-08|website=Democratic Alliance|language=en}} He apologized for his role in the controversy by saying "...the posters have regretfully caused hurt to some people. I am deeply sorry and apologise for this."{{Cite web|title=DA removes KZN posters|url=https://www.da.org.za/2021/10/da-removes-kzn-posters|access-date=2021-10-08|website=Democratic Alliance|language=en}}"As far as I know, a hero is someone who is saving the world, who is saving someone, who is protecting someone. How can you call a murderer a hero?"{{Cite web|last1=podcasters|first1=Omny Studio is the complete audio management solution for|last2=Stations|first2=Radio|title=Controversial Democratic Alliance election posters - The Clement Manyathela Show - Omny.fm|url=https://omny.fm/shows/mid-morning-show-702/controversial-democratic-alliance-election-posters|access-date=2021-10-08|website=omny.fm}}
Macpherson was further criticized in the media. Crispin Hemson, director at the International Centre of Non-violence at the Durban University of Technology, said the DA had exploited the situation.{{Cite web|title=DA posters irks Phoenix victim's mother|url=https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/south-africa/2021-10-07-da-posters-irks-phoenix-victims-mother/|access-date=2021-10-08|website=SowetanLIVE|language=en-ZA}} An editorial in the Mail & Guardian labelled Macpherson as "The poster boy for white arrogance" and another article published by News24 claimed many people within Macpherson's own party objected to the posters and said that the controversy had caused a "DA revolt" with "guns blazing for Macpherson" over the issue.{{Cite web|date=2021-10-07|title=Dean Mcpherson: The poster boy for whiteness|url=https://mg.co.za/opinion/2021-10-07-dean-mcpherson-the-poster-boy-for-whiteness/|access-date=2021-10-08|website=The Mail & Guardian|language=en-ZA}}{{Cite web|last=Hunter|first=Zintle Mahlati, Jason Felix and Qaanitah|title=Phoenix election posters cause DA revolt, guns blazing for Macpherson|url=https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/phoenix-election-posters-cause-da-revolt-guns-blazing-for-mcpherson-20211007|access-date=2021-10-08|website=News24|language=en-US}}
The ANC's provincial spokesperson Nhlakanipho Ntombela criticized the poster campaign and said, “The ANC calls on the citizens to strive to end racial exploitation by the DA that plays with their emotions."{{Cite web|last=Hunter|first=Zintle Mahlati, Jason Felix and Qaanitah|title=Phoenix election posters cause DA revolt, guns blazing for Macpherson|url=https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/phoenix-election-posters-cause-da-revolt-guns-blazing-for-mcpherson-20211007|access-date=2021-10-08|website=News24|language=en-US}} The ANC's deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte welcomed the removal of the posters but said her party would still lay an official complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC). Duarte told journalists during a visit to Phoenix on 7 October 2021: “This is what we must undo, and it has given the perception that racism is okay and vigilantism is okay. The message as resonated will not go away easily. So, taking the posters down is a good thing but we will go ahead with the Human Rights Commission complaint.”{{Cite web|last=Masuabi|first=Queenin|title=DA apologises for controversial posters while ANC heads to the SAHRC|url=https://www.news24.com/citypress/Politics/da-apologises-for-controversial-posters-while-anc-heads-to-the-sahrc-20211007|access-date=2021-10-08|website=Citypress|language=en-US}}
Personal life
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.pa.org.za/person/dean-william-macpherson/ Parliament biography]
- [https://twitter.com/DeanMacpherson?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor Twitter]
- [https://www.facebook.com/DeanMacphersonMP/ DeanMacphersonMP/] on Facebook
- {{Cite web |url=http://parliament.gov.za/live/content.php?Item_ID=184&MemberID=168 |title=Members of Parliament |publisher=Parliament of South Africa |access-date=4 October 2014}}
{{Current MPs of South Africa|state=collapsed}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Macpherson, Dean}}
Category:Democratic Alliance (South Africa) politicians
Category:Members of the National Assembly of South Africa 2024–2029
Category:Politicians from Durban
Category:South African gay politicians
Category:Members of the National Assembly of South Africa 2019–2024
Category:Members of the National Assembly of South Africa 2014–2019