Push to probe maWinnie museum

FRIDAY APRIL 06 2018 THE official opposition has thrown its weight behind the proposed investigation into allegations of misappropriation in the Winnie Madikizela-Mandela Museum at Brandfort in the Free State.

It comes after the Office of the Public Protector told the complainant, DA Free State MPL George Michalakis, that the matter should be handled by the standing committee on public accounts (Scopa) and the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) committee.

The public protector’s office said it was the last resort when other mechanisms failed to resolve a complaint.

This was in reference to the fact that NCOP’s committee is to receive answers from the Arts and Culture department, Lejweleputswa District Municipality and Masilonyana Local Municipality to questions at a meeting with stakeholders in February.

The committee had resolved to refer the matter to Scopa for investigation.

“It is our opinion that in the light of the intervention of Parliament, we should afford Parliament and specifically the NCOP to deal with the matter and Scopa to deal with perceived allegations of corruption in the execution of the project,” the letter said.

Michalakis lodged a complaint last November into the R3 million project that stalled after challenges like non-payment of a contractor and poor project management.

This week, questions have been about funds allocated to the Free State government to convert the house Madikizela-Mandela was banished to by the apartheid government in 1977, into a museum.

ANC secretary-general and former Free State premier Ace Magashule came under pressure from the media when he paid a visit to the Soweto home of the Struggle icon, who died on Monday.

Magashule insisted no government money has been lost in the project.

Yesterday, Michalakis said he was in favour of the Scopa investigation now that the public protector won’t be involved.

“It is a proper way to honour Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and make sure her legacy is preserved in a way that is free of corruption. Her name should not be tarnished in corruption,” Michalakis said.

Landulile Dlamini, NCOP’s select committee on education and recreation acting chairperson, could not be reached for comment.