Mamiki Qabathe
{{Short description|South African politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| office = Member of the Free State Executive Council for Social Development
| premier = Sisi Ntombela
| termstart = 28 May 2019
| predecessor = Butana Komphela
| termend = 14 March 2023
| successor = Motshidisi Koloi
| office1 = Speaker of the Free State Provincial Legislature
| premier1 = Ace Magashule
| termstart1 = March 2015
| successor1 = Zanele Sifuba
| predecessor1 = Sisi Mabe
| termend1 = May 2019
| office2 = Member of the Free State Executive Council for Agriculture
| term2 = May 2013 – March 2015
(for Agriculture and Rural Development)
| premier2 = Ace Magashule
| predecessor2 = Msebenzi Zwane
| successor2 = Msebenzi Zwane
| term3 = May 2009 – February 2011
| premier3 = Ace Magashule
| predecessor3 = Neo Masithela
| successor3 = Msebenzi Zwane
| term4 = January 2008 – October 2008
| predecessor4 = Susan Mnumzana
| successor4 = Neo Masithela
| office5 = Member of the Free State Executive Council for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs
| premier5 = Ace Magashule
| termstart5 = February 2012
| termend5 = March 2013
| predecessor5 = Mxolisi Dukwana
| successor5 = Msebenzi Zwane
| office6 = Deputy Provincial Secretary of the African National Congress in the Free State
| termstart6 = July 2008
| termend6 = March 2021
| predecessor6 = Sibongile Besani
| 1blankname6 = Secretary
| 1namedata6 = {{plainlist|
- Sibongile Besani
- William Bulwane
- Paseko Nompondo}}
| 2blankname6 = Chairperson
| 2namedata6 = {{plainlist|
- Ace Magashule
- Sam Mashinini}}
| birth_place = Hennenman, Orange Free State
South Africa
| party = African National Congress
| alma_mater = Vista University
}}
Motlagomang Grazy "Mamiki" Qabathe is a South African politician from the Free State. She represented the African National Congress (ANC) in the Free State Provincial Legislature between January 2008 and May 2024. During that time she served in the Executive Council of the Free State continuously between 2008 and 2023, excepting a term as Speaker of the Free State Provincial Legislature from 2015 to 2019.
Qabathe began her political career as an activist in the South African Municipal Workers' Union and as the first Executive Mayor of Lejweleputswa District Municipality. She was first appointed to the Free State Executive Council in January 2008 under Premier Beatrice Marshoff and she retained her seat throughout the first term of Premier Ace Magashule. She served in several portfolios, most prominently as Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Agriculture. She also served under Magashule as Deputy Provincial Secretary of the ANC's Free State branch from 2008 to 2021.
After her four years as speaker from 2015 to 2019, Qabathe returned to the Executive Council as MEC for Social Development from May 2019 to March 2023. She was sacked by Premier Mxolisi Dukwana in March 2023 and left the provincial legislature in the May 2024 general election.
Early life and career
Qabathe was born in Hennenman and grew up in Meloding, a township outside Virginia in the present-day Free State province (then the Orange Free State).{{Cite web |title=Profile of the MEC |url=http://www.ard.fs.gov.za/?page_id=664 |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=Department of Agriculture & Rural Development |language=en-US}} She became active in anti-apartheid youth politics in 1986 while a student at Vista University in Bloemfontein, where she joined the Azanian Students' Organisation. In 1987 she began work at the Meloding Town Council and the following year she was recruited to the South African Municipal Workers' Union (SAMWU), an affiliate of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU). Over the next few years, she rose through the ranks of SAMWU, from the local shop stewards' council to the positions of national provincial treasurer and national second deputy president.
She was also active in the regional branch of COSATU and after the end of apartheid in 1994 she became active in local structures of the African National Congress (ANC) and ANC Women's League. When the Lejweleputswa District Municipality was established in 2000, she represented the ANC as the district's inaugural Executive Mayor.
Provincial legislature
= Marshoff premiership: 2008–2009 =
In January 2008, Qabathe was appointed to the Free State Executive Council by Beatrice Marshoff, then the Premier of the Free State. She became Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Agriculture. In July of that year, she ascended for the first time to one of the so-called "Top Five" offices in the ANC's Free State branch; she was elected unopposed as Deputy Provincial Secretary of the Free State ANC, serving under Ace Magashule, as Provincial Chairperson, and Sibongile Besani, as Provincial Secretary.{{Cite web |date=2008-07-24 |title=No opposition as Free State ANC elects leaders |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2008-07-24-no-opposition-as-free-state-anc-elects-leaders/ |access-date=2023-01-09 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}} In October, Marshoff announced a reshuffle in which Qabathe became MEC for Sports, Arts and Culture; she remained in that portfolio for the rest of Marshoff's term in office.{{Cite web |date=23 October 2008 |title=FS reshuffles cabinet |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/fs-reshuffles-cabinet-20081022 |access-date=2023-01-03 |website=News24 |language=en-US}}
= Magashule premiership: 2009–2018 =
== Executive Council portfolios ==
Pursuant to the 2009 general election, Marshoff was succeeded as Premier by Ace Magashule. In Magashule's new Executive Council, Qabathe was returned to her old post as MEC for Agriculture.{{Cite web |date=2009-05-11 |title=Free State provincial ministers announced |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2009-05-11-free-state-provincial-ministers-announced/ |access-date=2023-01-03 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}} Over the next four years, Qabathe moved across several portfolios in Magashule's frequent reshuffles. She was moved to the cooperative governance, traditional affairs and human settlements portfolio in February 2011;{{Cite web |date=4 February 2011 |title=Magashule Shuffles MECs |url=http://www.premier.fs.gov.za/files/media-articles/Magashule%20shuffles%20MECs,%20February%202011.pdf |access-date=3 January 2023 |website=Premier of the Free State}} then to the economic development, tourism and environmental affairs portfolio in February 2012;{{Cite web |date=22 February 2012 |title=Premier reshuffles Free State Executive Council |url=https://www.gov.za/premier-reshuffles-free-state-executive-council |access-date=2023-01-09 |website=South African Government}}{{Cite web |date=23 February 2012 |title=Free State reshuffle political – DA |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/free-state-reshuffle-political-da-20120222 |access-date=2023-01-03 |website=News24 |language=en-US}} and finally back to the agriculture portfolio (which by then also included rural development) in March 2013.{{Cite web |date=2013-03-20 |title=Cabinet reshuffle |url=https://www.bloemfonteincourant.co.za/cabinet-reshuffle/ |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=Bloemfontein Courant |language=en-US}} In the 2014 general election, Qabathe was re-elected to her seat in the Free State Provincial Legislature, ranked eighth on the ANC's party list. Magashule, who was also re-elected, retained her as MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development.{{Cite web |date=29 May 2014 |title=Magashule announces his cabinet |url=https://www.ofm.co.za/article/local-news/147200/magashule-announces-his-cabinet |access-date=2023-01-09 |website=OFM}}{{Cite web |date=29 May 2014 |title=New faces in FState executive |url=https://www.news24.com/drum/news/new-faces-in-fstate-executive-20170728 |access-date=2023-01-09 |website=Drum |language=en-US}}
== Speaker of the Free State Legislature ==
On 11 March 2015, she was elected Speaker of the Free State Provincial Legislature and therefore departed the Executive Council; she succeeded Sisi Mabe, who had died in 2014, and Msebenzi Zwane succeeded her as Agriculture MEC in May.{{Cite web |date=2015-03-11 |title=Mamiki Qabathe VS se nuwe speaker |url=https://www.bloemfonteincourant.co.za/mamiki-qabathe-vs-se-nuwe-speaker/ |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=Bloemfontein Courant |language=Afrikaans}}{{Cite web |date=2015-05-06 |title=Ace reshuffles cabinet |url=https://www.bloemfonteincourant.co.za/ace-reshuffles-cabinet/ |access-date=2023-01-09 |website=Bloemfontein Courant |language=en-US}}
== Vrede Dairy Project ==
{{Main articles|Vrede Dairy Project}}
Qabathe's tenure as MEC under Magashule later attracted controversy because of her involvement in implementing the Vrede Dairy Project, which was established in 2012 but continued during Qabathe's third term as agriculture MEC from 2013 to 2015. The project was later investigated by the Public Protector, Busisiwe Mkhwebane, who concluded in 2020 that Qabathe – along with Magashule and Msebenzi Zwane, who both preceded and succeeded her in the agriculture portfolio – was guilty of maladministration and misconduct in so far as she had failed to fulfil her constitutional oversight duties in respect of the project.{{Cite web |last=Singh |first=Kaveel |date=21 December 2020 |title=Mkhwebane on Vrede dairy project: Ace Magashule and co 'failed' to hold state functions to account |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/mkhwebane-on-vrede-dairy-project-ace-magashule-and-co-failed-to-hold-state-functions-to-account-20201221 |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=News24 |language=en-US}}
Mkhwebane recommended that the Free State government should consider sanctioning Qabathe for her role in the Vrede Dairy Project saga.{{Cite web |date=21 December 2020 |title=Ace Magashule failed to ensure accountability in Vrede project, finds public protector |url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2020-12-21-ace-magashule-failed-to-ensure-accountability-in-vrede-project-finds-public-protector/ |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=Sunday Times |language=en-ZA}} The opposition Economic Freedom Fighters called for Qabathe to be fired,{{Cite web |last=Fortuin |first=Justine |date=2021-08-30 |title=EFF calls on FS Premier to fire MEC over #Vrede Dairy Project |url=https://www.bloemfonteincourant.co.za/eff-calls-on-fs-premier-to-fire-mec-over-vrede-dairy-project/ |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=Bloemfontein Courant |language=en-US}} and the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) asked the Special Investigating Unit to investigate her and other officials for their role.{{Cite web |date=3 June 2021 |title=DA welcomes Vrede Dairy arrests |url=https://fs.da.org.za/2021/06/da-welcomes-vrede-dairy-arrests |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=Democratic Alliance – Free State}} The DA claimed that, in addition to her putative failures as an MEC, Qabathe had shielded Zwane from accountability while she was Speaker of the legislature.{{Cite web |date=22 July 2019 |title=Ace Magashule and Mosebenzi Zwane 'opted for personal insults' over questions about Vrede dairy project |url=https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/national/2019-07-22-ace-magashule-and-mosebenzi-zwane-opted-for-personal-insults-over-questions-about-vrede-dairy-project/ |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=Business Day |language=en-ZA}}
== Re-election as ANC Deputy Secretary ==
Qabathe was re-elected to her party office as ANC Deputy Provincial Secretary in May 2013{{Cite web |date=2013-05-11 |title=Free State ANC re-elects controversial Ace Magashule |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2013-05-11-free-state-anc-re-elects-ace-magashule-without-objections/ |access-date=2022-11-29 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}} and December 2017,{{Cite web |date=2017-12-12 |title=Ace Magashule scores another term as Free State ANC leader |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2017-12-12-ace-magashule-scores-another-term-as-free-state-anc-leader/ |access-date=2022-11-30 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}} still under Provincial Chairperson Magashule. Shortly after her 2017 re-election, the election results were nullified by the high court due to procedural irregularities, but Qabathe was subsequently appointed as a member of the interim task team assembled by the national ANC to lead the provincial party until fresh elections could be held.{{Cite web |last=Nicolson |first=Greg |date=2018-03-05 |title=Magashule holds the Aces: He's still the 'hidden hand' in the Free State, say ANC members |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2018-03-05-magashule-holds-the-aces-hes-still-the-hidden-hand-in-the-free-state-say-anc-members/ |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=Daily Maverick |language=en}}
= Ntombela premiership: 2018–2023 =
When the ANC elections were re-run in May 2018, Qabathe was elected unopposed as Deputy Provincial Secretary, now serving under Sam Mashinini, who succeeded Magashule as chairperson, and Provincial Secretary Paseka Nompondo.{{Cite web |last=Moses |first=Andrew |date=20 May 2018 |title=Sam Mashinini elected Free State provincial chairperson |url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/sam-mashinini-elected-free-state-provincial-chairperson-15068864 |access-date=2022-11-28 |website=IOL |language=en}} In the 2019 general election, she was ranked second on the ANC's party list and was re-elected to the provincial legislature.{{Cite web |title=Motlagomang Grazy Qabathe |url=http://www.pa.org.za/person/motlagomang-grazy-qabathe/ |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=People's Assembly |language=en}} Instead of seeking re-election as Speaker, she was returned to the Executive Council, where Sisi Ntombela, Magashule's successor as Premier, appointed her MEC for Social Development.{{Cite web |date=28 May 2019 |title=Premier Sisi Ntombela: Announcement of Free State Executive Council |url=https://www.gov.za/speeches/announcement-free-state-premier-hon-sefora-%E2%80%98sisi%E2%80%99-ntombela-new-executive-council-6th |access-date=2023-01-03 |website=South African Government}} Her term as ANC Deputy Secretary ended in 2021 when the national ANC disbanded the provincial leadership corps.{{Cite web |date=2021-04-09 |title=Ramaphosa instructs dissolved Free State PEC to compromise |url=https://mg.co.za/politics/2021-04-09-ramaphosa-instructs-dissolved-free-state-pec-to-compromise/ |access-date=2022-11-28 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}
=Dukwana premiership: 2023–2024=
In March 2023, Qabathe was sacked from the Executive Council of Mxolisi Dukwana, who succeeded Ntombela as Premier following Ntombela's resignation the previous month.{{Cite web |last=OFM |title=Dukwana's Exco: Out with the old, in with the new |url=https://www.ofm.co.za/article/centralsa/322609/dukwanas-exco-out-with-the-old-in-with-the-new |access-date=2023-03-14 |website=OFM}} Qabathe served as a backbencher in the provincial legislature until the May 2024 general election, when she gave up her seat.
Personal life
References
External links
- {{People's Assembly (South Africa)|motlagomang-grazy-qabathe/|Ms Motlagomang Grazy Qabathe}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Qabathe, Mamiki}}
Category:African National Congress politicians
Category:21st-century South African politicians
Category:Members of the Free State Provincial Legislature
Category:People from Matjhabeng Local Municipality
Category:Mayors of places in South Africa
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:Women mayors of places in South Africa
Category:Women members of provincial legislatures of South Africa