Mervyn Dirks

Dirks grew up in the previous Transkei bantustan. He had to use a passport to cross the Umzimkulu River to attend school in the former Natal Province.{{cite web |title=Blog: Mervyn Alexander Dirks (ANC) |url=https://www.pa.org.za/blog/mervyn-alexander-dirks-anc |website=People's Assembly |access-date=12 May 2020}}

Dirks began his political activism by participating in the Happy Valley rent boycotts. He joined the United Democratic Front in the 1980s and became the organisation's head organiser in the Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal. In 1995, Dirks was elected as a municipal councillor of the Pietermaritzburg municipality. Following the 2006 municipal election, he became a member of the executive committee of the Msunduzi Local Municipality as he was elected deputy mayor. He served in the position until 2010, when the ANC recalled the municipal leadership.{{cite news |title=New team to 'return Msunduzi to former glory' |url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/new-team-to-return-msunduzi-to-former-glory-477586 |access-date=12 May 2020 |agency=IOL |date=26 March 2010 |quote=Former mayor Zanele Hlatshwayo, her deputy Mervin Dirks and another exco member and Themba Zungu were given the boot for the municipality's poor performance.}} Dirks was elected as an MP at the 2014 general election held on 7 May. He was sworn into office on 21 May 2014. The following year, Dirks was elected to the provincial executive committee of the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal. He was re-elected for a second term as an MP in May 2019. In June 2019, he became the chief whip of the ANC in the Standing Committee on Public Accounts.{{cite news |last1=Gerber |first1=Jan |title=IFP's Mkhuleko Hlengwa set to become Scopa chair |url=https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/ifps-mkhuleko-hlengwa-set-to-become-scopa-chair-20190621 |access-date=12 May 2020 |newspaper=News24 |date=21 June 2016}}

In January 2022, Dirks wrote a letter to the chairperson of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA), Mkhuleko Hlengwa, in which he requested that the committee to summon ANC president and the current President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, to appear in front of the committee for his alleged misuse of state funds for party activities.{{Cite web|title=ANC MP wants Ramaphosa hauled before Scopa over ‘misuse’ of state cash|url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/sunday-times-daily/politics/2022-01-16-anc-mp-wants-ramaphosa-hauled-before-scopa-over-misuse-of-state-cash/|access-date=2022-01-21|website=TimesLIVE|language=en-ZA}} Ramaphosa said in a leaked audio recording that "Investigations will reveal that a lot of public money was used (to fund political campaigns)." On 17 January, ANC chief whip Pemmy Majodina asked Dirks in a letter to withdraw his letter to Hlengwa. Dirks refused and on the same day, he wrote to the ANC's strategy group and demanded that they explain to him as to why he needs to withdraw his letter. On 20 January 2022, the ANC suspended Dirks's membership of the ANC parliamentary group pending disciplinary action against him for his "unbecoming conduct". His membership of the SCOPA was also suspended and he was removed as the whip of the ANC's SCOPA study group. His membership of the ANC's strategy group was also suspended and he was removed from ANC caucus WhatsApp groups.{{Cite web|title=ANC suspends MP Mervyn Dirks after he urges Scopa to act against Cyril Ramaphosa over comments on fund abuse|url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/anc-suspends-mp-mervyn-dirks-after-he-urges-scopa-to-act-against-cyril-ramaphosa-over-comments-on-fund-abuse-7e9352e4-e76f-468c-ba6b-f94395c3709a|access-date=2022-01-21|website=www.iol.co.za|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Ndenze|first=Babalo|title=ANC MP Dirks to address suspension from party's parliamentary caucus on Friday|url=https://ewn.co.za/2022/01/21/anc-mp-dirks-to-address-suspension-from-party-s-parliamentary-caucus-on-friday|access-date=2022-01-21|website=ewn.co.za|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Khumalo|first=Juniour|title=ANC suspends Mervyn Dirks for 'unbecoming conduct' following his call to investigate Ramaphosa|url=https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/anc-suspends-mervyn-dirks-for-unbecoming-conduct-following-his-call-to-investigate-ramaphosa-20220120|access-date=2022-01-21|website=News24|language=en-US}} Despite Dirks' suspension, SCOPA chair Hlengwa has said that the investigation will continue.{{Cite web|last=Gerber|first=Jan|title=ANC suspending Dirks will not scupper investigation into Ramaphosa, says Scopa chairperson|url=https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/anc-suspending-dirks-will-not-scupper-investigation-into-ramaphosa-says-scopa-chairperson-20220121|access-date=2022-01-21|website=News24|language=en-US}}

On 13 December 2022, Dirks was one of five ANC MPs who defied the party whip to vote against the adoption on the Section 89 Panel report on whether sufficient evidence exists to show that President Cyril Ramaphosa committed a serious violation of the Constitution or law or committed a serious misconduct amid the 2020 Phala Phala Robbery.{{Cite web |last=Mntambo |first=Nokukhanya |title=NDZ first of 4 ANC MPs to vote for adoption of Section 89 Phala Phala report |url=https://ewn.co.za/2022/12/13/ndz-first-of-4-anc-mps-to-vote-for-adoption-of-section-89-phala-phala-report |access-date=2023-06-22 |website=ewn.co.za |language=en}}

On 30 January 2023, it was reported that Dirks and fellow ANC MP Tshilidzi Munyai had resigned from the National Assembly amid an impending Cabinet reshuffle by President Cyril Ramaphosa. Dirks said on his resignation that he would remain a party member.{{Cite web |last=Felix |first=Jason |title=Two ANC MPs resign amid talks of impending Cabinet reshuffle by Ramaphosa |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/politics/parliament/two-anc-mps-resign-amid-talks-of-impending-cabinet-reshuffle-by-ramaphosa-20230130 |access-date=2023-01-30 |website=News24 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Ndenze |first=Babalo |title='I will remain a member of the ANC', says Mervyn Dirks after MP resignation |url=https://ewn.co.za/2023/01/30/i-will-remain-a-member-of-the-anc-says-mervyn-dirks-after-mp-resignation |access-date=2023-01-30 |website=ewn.co.za |language=en}}

Dirks was sworn in as a member of the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature on 22 June 2023. He filled the casual vacancy arising from Kwazi Mshengu's resignation.{{Cite news |last=Mboto |first=Sibusiso |date=22 June 2023 |title=Dirks returns as ANC MPL in KZN Legislature |work=Independent Online |url=https://www.iol.co.za/mercury/news/dirks-returns-as-anc-mpl-in-kzn-legislature-06b34ff1-49f9-430f-8f48-70567b3013f7 |access-date=22 June 2023}}

Dirks was expelled from the ANC on 25 February 2024 for aligning himself to former president Jacob Zuma's Umkhonto we Sizwe party which he subsequently joined.{{Cite web |date=2024-02-27 |title=ANC expels Mervyn Dirks for cosying up to MK party |url=https://mg.co.za/politics/2024-02-27-anc-expels-mervyn-dirks-for-cosying-up-to-mk-party/ |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}{{Cite web |last=Nemakonde |first=Vhahangwele |date=2024-02-27 |title='I feel so good' − Mervyn Dirks unfazed by ANC expelling him for joining Zuma at MK party |url=https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/politics/anc-expels-mervyn-dirks-joining-zuma-mk-party/ |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=The Citizen |language=en}}

Dirks was appointed MK's Chief Whip in the KwaZulu-Natal legislature in January 2025,{{Cite web |last=Makinana |first=Andisiwe |title=Mervyn Dirks appointed MKP's KZN chief whip, replacing suspended Kwazi Mbanjwa |url=https://www.news24.com/politics/mervyn-dirks-appointed-mkps-kzn-chief-whip-replacing-suspended-kwazi-mbanjwa-20250105 |access-date=2025-06-18 |website=News24 |language=en-US}} and was dismissed in June 2025.{{Cite web |last=Maliti |first=Soyiso |title=Mervyn Dirks fired as KZN MK Party chief whip |url=https://www.news24.com/politics/mervyn-dirks-fired-as-kzn-mk-party-chief-whip-20250617-0746 |access-date=2025-06-18 |website=News24 |language=en-US}}

In 2017, Dirks attempted to disrupt a parliamentary debate regarding state capture.{{cite news |last1=Mokone |first1=Thabo |title=Pro-Zuma MPs fail to quash state capture debate |url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2017-11-29-pro-zuma-mps-fail-to-quash-state-capture-debate/ |access-date=12 May 2020 |newspaper=TimesLIVE |date=29 November 2017}} In August of that same year, he showed middle finger to the opposition MPs. He did it again on 30 November,{{cite news |last1=Ndou |first1=Clive |title=ANC MP Dirks apologises for showing finger in Parliament |url=https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/mp-shows-the-finger-again-20171201 |access-date=12 May 2020 |agency=The Witness |date=4 December 2017}} after he called opposition MP Phumzile van Damme a "straatmeid" (prostitute).{{cite news |last1=van Niekerk |first1=Garreth |title=Phumzile van Damme: Mervyn Dirks Called Me A 'Straatm**d' |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2017/12/01/phumzile-van-damme-mervyn-dirks-called-me-a-straatm-d_a_23293689/ |access-date=12 May 2020 |newspaper=HuffPost |date=1 December 2017}} On that same day, he also threatened fellow ANC MP Tozama Mantashe, the younger sister of senior party politician Gwede Mantashe.{{cite news |title=Mantashe's younger sister explains what happened in altercation with ANC MP |url=https://citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/1746588/mantashes-younger-sister-explains-what-happened-in-altercation-with-anc-mp/ |access-date=12 May 2020 |newspaper=The Citizen |date=1 December 2017}} ANC chief whip Jackson Mthembu condemned his actions.{{cite news |last1=Gerber |first1=Jan |title=ANC MP Dirks' behaviour is 'despicable' - Mthembu |url=https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/anc-mp-dirks-behaviour-is-despicable-mthembu-20171201 |access-date=12 May 2020 |newspaper=News24 |date=1 December 2017}}

In September 2017, The Witness reported that Dirks had an outstanding municipal debt over R60,000.{{cite news |last1=Pillay |first1=Kailene |title=Outrage over Dirks’ R60 000 City bill |url=https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/outrage-over-dirks-r60-000-city-bill-20170914 |access-date=12 May 2020 |newspaper=The Witness |date=15 September 2017}} Later, in 2019, Dirks was referred to the parliamentary Ethics Committee after he called certain MPs "dogs".{{cite news |last1=Makinana |first1=Andiswe |title=ANC MP Mervyn Dirks in the dog box again - for social media slur |url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2019-04-02-anc-mp-mervyn-dick-dirks-in-the-dog-box-again-this-time-for-a-slur-on-social-media/ |access-date=12 May 2020 |newspaper=TimesLIVE |date=2 April 2019}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20200523205156/https://www.parliament.gov.za/person-details/47 Mr Mervyn Alexander Dirks – Parliament of South Africa]
• [https://www.pa.org.za/person/mervyn-alexander-dirks/ Mervyn Alexander Dirks – People's Assembly]

{{KwaZulu-Natal MPLs|state=collapsed}}

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Category:Living people

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:Politicians from the Eastern Cape

Category:People from Msunduzi Local Municipality

Category:African National Congress politicians

Category:Members of the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature

Category:Members of the National Assembly of South Africa 2019–2024

Category:Members of the National Assembly of South Africa 2014–2019