David Makhura

Early Life and Career

Makhura was born on 22 February 1968 at Mara Buysdorp in Soutpansberg District of Limpopo.

Between 1984 and 2004 Makhura was involved in student and youth politics in the Azanian Student Movement, the Congress of South Afrrican Students (COSAS), and the South African Youth Congrss, where he served various leadership positions.

As a young activist, Makhura joined the underground structures of the banned African National Congress, (ANC), and the South African Communist Party (SACP) in 1986 and 1987. During his student years at University Makhura fought against financial exclusion at tertiary institutions. With pressure from student organizations like the SA Student Congress (SASCO), of which Makhura had been he secretary-general, ensured that students recieced funding.

Provincial Secretary of the ANC

Makhura served as the Provincial secretary of the ANC in the Province of Gauteng from 2001 to 2004

Gauteng Premier

Makhura became the Premier of Gauteng in 2014 after succeeding Nomvula Mokonyane who went on to become a minister in the cabinet of Jacob Zuma.

Makhura was the favourate of the provincial ANC leadership, which had in the past been opposed to President Jacob Zuma's leadership.

Crime

In 2014 after taking office Makhura said that, the people of Gauteng needed to wage war on crime to protect their children, while speaking at a meeting in the community of Reiger Park as part of the government's, Gauteng Township Economy Revitalisation Programme. Makhura spoke at Reiger Park after the shooting of Four-year old Taegin Morris who had been killed in a botched hijacking the previous month.

In 2016 Makhura laid charges against former head of the Department of Sport, Namhla Siqaza, in a bid to recover more than R800 million in government tenders that had improperly been awarded.

Health

In 2014 the newly built Natalspruit Hospital was officially opened and was christened as the "future of Gauteng Health" by Makhura. The Minister of Health, Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi who also attended the opening with Makhura, said that the equipment found inside the Hospital was previously only found in private hospitals. The Natalspruit Hospital had cost R1.7billion to construct in a period of 8 years and was furnished with 821 beds.

While addressing senior managers, CEOs of Gauteng hospitals, health workers and professionals at the 2016 Khanyisa Service Excellence Awards. Makhura said the even though Gauteng he'd been the best performing province in 2015, the province could do better. A survey suggested that 69% of people in Gauteng were satisfied with the Provinces. Healthcare services. Makhura said that it was not good enough and was aiming for 80% satisfactory level by 2019. Makhura said that the Department of Health in Gauteng would spend more that R1.2 billion over three years on the modernisation of public health and R3 billion on equipment.

Employment

Makhura said that he had ambitions to grow the economy of the province, which will create employment for thousands of unemployed people in Gauteng.

Revitelisation of townships

Makhura said that the province was working on a concrete plan to revitalise old townships in the province. Makhura said that in order to change Human Settlements in five years the province was planning to build 140 000 houses around Gauteng.

All those developments would have major socio economic benefits with regard to decent employment and economic inclusion.

Personal life

David Makhura is married to Mpho Makhura and the couple have three children. Makhura holds a Masters of Science (MSc) degree in Public Policy and Management from the University of London, and is studying towards a Masters of Philosophy (MPhil) in Futures Studies (energy futures) at the University of Stellenbosch.