MEC accuses rival of smear campaign
Bonginkosi Madikizela says a probe into his birthday party is sinister
HUMAN settlements MEC Bonginkosi Madikizela, who held a lavish birthday party in March, has accused his opponent in the running for the position of DA provincial leader, Lennit Max, of being behind a smear campaign to oust him.
During a press conference yesterday Madikizela said that he celebrated many birthdays before. “It’s not a coincident that this particular one is in the media a few weeks before the provincial congress and was the only one attended by Lennit Max, who is my contestant and ironically a conduct committee chairperson until Friday last week. Max is certainly one of my opponents and I have asked him if he will be contesting me for the the position of provincial chairperson and he said that he was considering it. But I heard that he was addressing delegates about going to stand,” he said.
He continued that he wanted to confirm that he wrote a letter through his lawyer to the conduct committee chairperson (Max) asking him to recuse himself. The committee investigated the allegations against Madikizela.
“Because of the conflict of interest, given the fact that he (Max) will be contesting me for DA provincial leader’s position in October, I suspect his resignation is linked to that which is the right thing to do after I was informed by our delegates that he’s been sending them newspaper clips about this matter for obvious reasons.”
Madikela’s birthday party is being investigated by the public protector. His birthday party was held at the One & Only Hotel on March 11. The ANC is alleging that the birthday gifts were apparently given to Madikizela by donors who sponsored the party and hospitality. Pierre Uys, ANC chief whip in the provincial legislature, said because Madikizela was a public official, all gifts that he was given, had to be recorded with the Western Cape Legislature’s registrar.
Yesterday Madikizela said: “Why can’t I have a party at the One & Only Hotel? I earn R1.9 million a year. It is not relevant how much the party cost. I can’t recall receiving a gift that is more than R1 500, which is the amount we are required to declare. I had no way of knowing the price of the cake and who paid for it. I will be subjecting myself fully, and will co-operate with anyone or any institution that is investigating this matter.” ”
Khaya Magaxa, ANC provincial chairperson, said: “The ANC wants to get to the bottom of this scandal. It is clear from legislature records that Madikizela did not declare these benefits as required.”
In response, Max said that any allegation of a smear campaign by him, was baseless, vexatious, spurious, and without substance. “The media were getting their information directly from the standing committee and what was published in the papers emanated from the committee and not me,” he said.