Shady connection

Dan Plato was criticised in 2016 for using gangster and drag queen Sylvano Hendricks, left, known as Queenie Madikizela-Malema, as an “informant”. The Times reported that this resulted in an embarrassing saga in which Hendricks used his connection with the MEC to rip off Garden Route guesthouse owners. Hendricks stole one owner’s car after racking up an R87,000 bill that he claimed would be paid by Plato. He claimed to have stayed at the property on official government business under Plato’s orders. Plato denied the claim and asked him to return the car