Geoff Makhubo

{{Short description|South African politician (1968–2021)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}} {{Infobox officeholder |name = Geoff Makhubo |native_name = |native_name_lang = |image = Geoff Makhubo, Mayor of Johannesburg.jpg |alt = |caption = Makhubo after being elected Mayor on 4 December 2019 |office1 = Mayor of Johannesburg |predecessor1 = Herman Mashaba |successor1 = Eunice Mgcina (Acting)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/eunice-mgcina-is-acting-mayor-of-joburg-f762bc6e-dc76-4c5f-8d6e-4e44ae858d6f|title = Eunice Mgcina is acting mayor of Joburg}}</ref><br/>Jolidee Matongo |term_start1 = 4 December 2019 |term_end1 = 9 July 2021 |office2 = Regional Chairperson of the African National Congress in Johannesburg |predecessor2 = Parks Tau |successor2 = |term_start2 = 1 July 2018 |term_end2 = 9 July 2021 |party = African National Congress (Until 2021; his death) |birth_date = 8 February 1968 |birth_place = Soweto, Transvaal Province, South Africa |death_date = {{death date and age|2021|7|9|1968|2|8|df=y}} |death_place = Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa |death_cause = COVID-19 |citizenship = |other_party =  |partner =  |relations = |children = |alma_mater = University of Witwatersrand }} '''Moloantoa Geoffrey Makhubo''' (8 February 1968 – 9 July 2021) was a South African politician who served as the Mayor of Johannesburg from December 2019 until his death from COVID-19 in July 2021. He was a member of the African National Congress and the party's regional chair. During the administration of Parks Tau, he served as the MMC (Member of the Mayoral Committee) for Finance.<ref>{{cite news |title=Joburg elects new mayor |url=https://www.enca.com/news/joburg-elects-new-mayor |access-date=4 December 2019 |newspaper=eNCA |date=4 December 2019 |archive-date=23 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923150156/https://www.enca.com/news/joburg-elects-new-mayor |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Early life and education== Makhubo was born in 1968 in Soweto in the previous Transvaal Province. He obtained a BComm degree from the University of the Witwatersrand in 1990. He fulfilled many Advanced Management courses.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sicetsha |first1=Andile |title=Joburg mayoral election: ANC fields Geoff Makhubo as candidate|url=https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/joburg-mayoral-election-who-is-geoff-makhubo/ |access-date=4 December 2019 |newspaper=The South African |date=28 November 2019}}</ref> Makhubo completed a Management Advancement Programme (MAP) at Wits Business School in 1997. He also earned a Leadership in Local Government certificate from the University of Cape Town. At the time of his death in 2021, he was enrolled for a master's degree at Wits University.<ref name="CoJ">{{cite web |title=The Executive Mayor, Cllr Geoffrey Makhubo |url=https://www.joburg.org.za/about_/government/Pages/Executive/current-executive-mayor.aspx |website=City of Johannesburg |access-date=9 July 2021}}</ref>

==Politics== Makhubo was the chairperson of the African National Congress Youth League while in his youth.<ref name="CoJ" /> He served as the Johannesburg MMC for Finance under the mayoralty of Parks Tau.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mayor names committee |url=https://www.joburg.org.za/media_/Newsroom/Pages/2013%20articles/2011%20&%202012%20%20Articles/Mayor-names-committee.aspx |website=www.joburg.org.za |access-date=4 December 2019}}</ref> He also held the roles of Leader of Executive Business in Council and Chairperson of the Governance Cluster when Tau was mayor.<ref name="CoJ" /> Makhubo had served as the Co-President of the Metropolis Global Fund for Cities’ Development (FMDV).<ref name="CoJ" />

He had held senior leadership roles in the African National Congress's Greater Johannesburg Region. He was the regional treasurer before he became the regional leader in July 2018. He was appointed the caucus leader of the ANC in the city council after the resignation of Parks Tau in May 2019.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mdhluli |first1=Nomsa |title=Goeffrey Makhubo elected ANC's regional chair In Johannesburg |url=http://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/goeffrey-makhubo-elected-ancs-regional-chair-in-johannesburg/ |access-date=4 December 2019 |newspaper=SABC News |date=1 July 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Head |first1=Tom |title=Geoff Makhubo: CV, qualifications, and scandals of the new Joburg Mayor |url=https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/joburg-mayor-who-is-geoff-makhubo-qualifications-scandals/ |access-date=4 December 2019 |newspaper=The South African |date=4 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Makhubo replaces Parks Tau as Joburg ANC leader |url=https://fourwaysreview.co.za/285571/makhubo-replaces-parks-tau-joburg-anc-leader/ |access-date=4 December 2019 |agency=FourwaysReview |date=12 July 2018}}</ref>

==Mayoralty== On 28 November 2019, the African National Congress announced that it had nominated Makhubo for the position of mayor following the resignation of the Democratic Alliance's Herman Mashaba.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Koko |first1=Khaya |title=ANC nominates Geoff Makhubo to be next Joburg mayor |url=https://www.iol.co.za/the-star/news/anc-nominates-geoff-makhubo-to-be-next-joburg-mayor-38105876 |access-date=4 December 2019 |newspaper=IOL |date=28 November 2019}}</ref> He was officially elected to the office on 4 December 2019 after he received 137 out of 268 votes. The DA's Funzela Ngobeni received 101 votes, while the EFF's Musa Novela received 30 votes.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mailovich |first1=Claudi |title=ANC regains control of City of Johannesburg |url=https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/national/2019-12-04-anc-regains-control-of-city-of-johannesburg/ |access-date=4 December 2019 |newspaper=BusinessLIVE |date=4 December 2019}}</ref>

Makhubo entered office under much controversy as he had been accused of gross corruption by both the Economic Freedom Fighters and the Democratic Alliance following a payment of R30 million to his company from Regiments Capital, a firm implicated in the ongoing State Capture inquiries, while he served as Finance MMC.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Comrie |first1=Susan |title=Geoff Makhubo: Meet Joburg's tainted mayor |url=https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/geoff-makhubo-joburgs-tainted-mayor-in-waiting-20191202 |access-date=4 December 2019 |newspaper=News24 |date=3 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Mkentane |first1=Luyolo |title=Corruption allegations against ANC mayoral candidate 'still to be discussed' |url=https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/national/2019-12-02-corruption-allegations-against-anc-mayoral-candidate-still-to-be-discussed/ |access-date=4 December 2019 |newspaper=BusinessLIVE |date=2 December 2019}}</ref>

On 27 November 2020, Makhubo testified at The Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture.<ref>{{cite news |title=Joburg mayor Geoff Makhubo testifies at state capture inquiry |url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2020-11-27-watch-live-joburg-mayor-geoff-makhubo-testifies-at-zondo-commission/ |access-date=27 December 2020 |agency=TimesLIVE |date=27 November 2020}}</ref>

In May 2021, Makhubo was accused of corruption related to dealings with the company EOH Group as outlined at the Zondo Commission.<ref>{{cite web |title=Joburg mayor Geoff Makhubo had corrupt dealings with suppliers: Zondo lawyer |url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2021-05-17-joburg-mayor-geoff-makhubo-had-corrupt-dealings-with-suppliers-zondo-lawyer/ |website=www.timeslive.co.za |date=17 May 2021 |access-date=1 June 2021}}</ref>

==Death== Makhubo died of COVID-19 related complications on 9 July 2021. He had been hospitalised a week prior.<ref>{{cite news |title=City of Johannesburg Mayor Geoff Makhubo has died from Covid-19 |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/SouthAfrica/News/city-of-johannesburg-mayor-geoff-makhubo-has-died-from-covid-19-20210709 |access-date=9 July 2021 |agency=News24 |date=9 July 2021}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Makhubo, Geoff}} Category:1968 births Category:2021 deaths Category:20th-century South African politicians Category:Zulu people Category:21st-century South African politicians Category:African National Congress politicians Category:University of the Witwatersrand alumni Category:People from Soweto Category:Politicians from Gauteng Category:Mayors of Johannesburg Category:Deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa