Mervyn Dirks

**Mervyn Alexander Dirks** be a South African politician who serve as a Member of de KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Legislature from June 2023 until February 2024. A former member of de African National Congress, he previously serve as a member of de National Assembly from May 2014 to January 2023.

During ein tenure insyd parliament, he be de ANC ein chief whip insyd de Standing Committee on Public Accounts until ein suspension insyd January 2022. Dirks be a municipal councillor of de Msunduzi Local Municipality where he serve as de deputy mayor.

Dirks join Jacob Zuma ein UMkhonto WeSizwe (MK) party insyd 2024 den be de MK party ein KwaZulu-Natal legislature speaker candidate, however, he be defeated by Ntobeko Boyce of de African National Congress.

## Early life
Dirks grow up insyd de previous Transkei bantustan. He have to use a passport to cross de Umzimkulu River to attend school insyd de former Natal Province.

## Political career
Dirks begin ein political activism by participate insyd de Happy Valley rent boycotts. He join de United Democratic Front insyd de 1980s den become de organisation ein head organiser insyd de Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal. Insyd 1995, Dirks be elected as a municipal councillor of de Pietermaritzburg municipality. Follow de 2006 municipal election, he become a member of de executive committee of de Msunduzi Local Municipality as he be elected as deputy mayor. He serve insyd de position until 2010, when de ANC recall de municipal leadership. Dirks be elected as an MP at de 2014 general election hold on 7 May. He be sworn into office on 21 May 2014. De follow year, Dirks be elected to de provincial executive committee of de ANC insyd KwaZulu-Natal. He be re-elected for a second term as an MP insyd May 2019. Insyd June 2019, he become de chief whip of de ANC insyd de Standing Committee on Public Accounts.

Insyd January 2022, Dirks write a letter to de chairperson of de Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA), Mkhuleko Hlengwa, insyd which he request dat de committee to summon ANC president den de current President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, to appear insyd front of de committee for ein alleged misuse of state funds for party activities. Ramaphosa say insyd a leak audio recording dat "Investigations reveal dat a lot of public money be used (to fund political campaigns)." On 17 January, ANC chief whip Pemmy Majodina ask Dirks insyd a letter to withdraw ein letter to Hlengwa. Dirks refuse den on de same day, he write to de ANC ein strategy group den demand dat dem explain to ein as to why he need to withdraw ein letter. On 20 January 2022, de ANC suspend Dirks ein membership of de ANC parliamentary group pending disciplinary action against ein for ein "unbecoming conduct". Ein membership of de SCOPA sanso be suspend den he be removed as de whip of de ANC ein SCOPA study group. Ein membership of de ANC ein strategy group sanso be suspended den he be removed from ANC caucus WhatsApp groups. Despite Dirks ein suspension, SCOPA chair Hlengwa say dat de investigation go continue.

On 13 December 2022, Dirks be one of five ANC MPs who defy de party whip to vote against de adoption on de Section 89 Panel report on whether sufficient evidence exist to show dat President Cyril Ramaphosa commit a serious violation of de Constitution or law or commit a serious misconduct amid de 2020 Phala Phala Robbery.

On 30 January 2023, it be reported dat Dirks den fellow ANC MP Tshilidzi Munyai resign from de National Assembly amid an impending Cabinet reshuffle by President Cyril Ramaphosa. Dirks say on ein resignation dat he remain a party member.

Dirks be sworn insyd as a member of de KwaZulu-Natal Legislature on 22 June 2023. He fill de casual vacancy arise from Kwazi Mshengu ein resignation.

Dirks be expelled from de ANC on 25 February 2024 for align einself to former president Jacob Zuma ein Umkhonto we Sizwe party which he subsequently join.

Dirks be appointed MK ein Chief Whip insyd de KwaZulu-Natal legislature insyd January 2025, wey na dem dismiss am insyd June 2025.

## Incidents
Insyd 2017, Dirks attempt to disrupt a parliamentary debate regard state capture. Insyd August of dat same year, he show middle finger to de opposition MPs. He do it again on 30 November, after he call opposition MP Phumzile van Damme a "straatmeid" (prostitute). On dat same day, he sanso threaten fellow ANC MP Tozama Mantashe, de younger sister of senior party politician Gwede Mantashe. ANC chief whip Jackson Mthembu condemn ein actions.

Insyd September 2017, The Witness report dat Dirks get an outstanding municipal debt over R60,000. Later, insyd 2019, Dirks be refer to de parliamentary Ethics Committee after he call certain MPs "dogs".

## References


## External links
*Mr Mervyn Alexander Dirks – Parliament of South Africa
*Mervyn Alexander Dirks – People's Assembly