WILD DAYS: Jackson Mthembu jokes with journalists after he was granted R500 bail following his arrest for allegedly driving drunk on the N2 highway in Cape Town in 2010. Picture: SOWETAN
WILD DAYS: Jackson Mthembu jokes with journalists after he was granted R500 bail following his arrest for allegedly driving drunk on the N2 highway in Cape Town in 2010. Picture: SOWETAN

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TWO colourful events stand out in new African National Congress (ANC) chief whip Jackson Mthembu’s political career. One was when he gave an interview from behind bars after he was arrested while driving on the wrong side of a Cape Town road under the influence of alcohol.

A reporter called him in connection with a completely different story, asking for comment in his capacity as the ANC spokesman.

After giving the comment, Mr Mthembu broke out into the controversial song: "Dubul’ibhunu" — shoot the boer. It was only later, and after receiving a police statement about his arrest that the journalist picked up that Mr Mthembu gave the interview while in police custody.

He took responsibility for the drunk-driving saga, apologised and all was forgiven.

The second event came in 2012, when Mr Mthembu responded to a Sunday newspaper’s report on a painting at the Goodman Gallery by artist Brett Murray, depicting President Jacob Zuma with exposed genitals.

Mr Mthembu was one of the people who led marchers up Johannesburg’s Jan Smuts Avenue to the gallery in Parkview, demanding that it immediately drop the painting, part of the "Hail to the Thief" exhibition that commented on the capture of the state — which Mr Mthembu has complained about recently.

During that march, Mr Mthembu famously chanted: "Don’t buy City Press don’t buy!!!" as he called for a boycott of the paper for publishing the image.

But those days are gone and Mr Mthembu is now a changed man of more sober habits. He no longer dances to Mshini Wami, at least not as passionately as he used to. He is now very critical of the Gupta family and its entrenchment in South African politics. Especially the politics of the ruling party. He was among the few who bothered to voice their unhappiness, supporting Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas and others who outed the Guptas.

On Tuesday he was confirmed as the ANC’s chief whip — an appointment that demonstrates a shift of some sort in the ANC’s power dynamics. In an era of political patronage, it has become almost impossible for someone so critical of Mr Zuma and his Gupta friends to be given such a strategic position. The position of chief whip places Mr Mthembu in regular contact with ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe, who has lately become another vocal critic of the state of affairs under Mr Zuma’s leadership.

The chief whip role in the ANC seems to be a poisoned chalice. Occupants of that office, such as Tony Yengeni, Mathole Motshekga and Nathi Nhleko, have not lived long in it. Mr Mthembu becomes the 12th occupant of the hot seat in 22 years, replacing Stone Sizani, who quit early this year to take up a post as SA’s ambassador to Germany. Although no reasons were given for Mr Sizani’s redeployment, it is generally believed the job requires someone who can adequately protect the interests of the party and its leadership in the face of mounting criticism and increasing militancy from opposition parties in Parliament — notably from the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), who know him well from their conflict-ridden days as members of the ANC Youth League.

Mr Mthembu has some experience in leading caucuses, having been chief whip in the Mpumalanga legislature. It is also similar to his role as ANC spokesman.

Mr Mthembu was also Mpumalanga road and transport MEC, and legislature speaker before moving to Luthuli House.

Last week he launched a blistering attack on the controversial Gupta family. Following Mr Jonas’s dramatic confirmation on Wednesday that the Gupta family had offered him the finance minister post, Mr Mthembu tweeted: "I believe Cde Jonas‚ @MyANC — must deal with this arrogance of the #Guptas once and for all!! Who the hell do they think they are."

EFF spokesman Mbuyiseni Ndlozi said Mr Mthembu had some "weaknesses" but was " politically senior enough to provide political guidance to most of the ANC wayward members of Parliament and the executive".