MORE WOES FOR MADIKIZELA
SUSPENDED Transport and Public Works MEC Bonginkosi Madikizela’s woes could worsen after an opposition party in the legislature said they would lodge a criminal complaint with the police for his “lying” about having a degree on his CV.
Madikizela has remained tight-lipped since Western Cape Premier Alan Winde confirmed that he had suspended him pending the outcome of an investigation.
The DA announced that its provincial deputy leader Albert Fritz would act in Madikizela’s place as the party’s head for two weeks.
When the Cape Times approached him for comment, Madikizela would only say that he would share his side of the story in due course. DA national spokesperson Siviwe Gwarube referred requests for party comment to Winde’s office.
In announcing Madikizela’s suspension, Winde said that he was “deeply” concerned that the MEC’s biography contained information which by his admission is not true.
“I have since carefully considered the matter and have taken the decision to suspend Minister Madikizela effective immediately for a period of 14 days, while an investigation determines all the facts.
“Once I have all the facts, I will make a final decision regarding Minister Madikizela and his role in my cabinet,” said Winde. Human Settlements MEC Tertuis Simmers is standing in for him. Madikizela’s problems began when he announced that he would contest the mayoral position in the DA.
Other candidates include current mayor Dan Plato, and MP Geordin HillLewis.
The internal interviews were on Sunday postponed to an undetermined date after the appointed ombudsman ruled that the selection panel did not conform to the candidate nomination regulations.
Good Party secretary Brett Herron said he would lodge a complaint against Madikizela. “On top of this criminal lie, two weeks ago the public protector issued a report which found Madikizela guilty of lying to Parliament and instructed Premier Alan Winde to act against him for this breach of the executive ethics code,” Herron said.
ANC leader in the provincial legislature, Cameron Dugmore said: “We welcome the suspension of MEC Madikizela by premier Winde, however, we disagree with Winde’s self-imposed period of 14 days.
“We have called for the code of conduct committee in the legislature to conduct an inquiry into the conduct of MEC Madikizela. This is a multi-party committee of the legislature. It is this investigation that should commence and only once it is concluded and its findings reported to the legislature, should there be any consideration of whether to lift the suspension or not. Thus, we reject a 14-day period.”
Meanwhile opposition parties have since raised questions over Simmers and Hill-Lewis. Good Party’s Sammy Claassen claimed Simmers
was a “liar” in relation to electricity theft charges against him in Knysna.
“He stole electricity while earning a big fat salary as a senior DA councillor yet he was promoted to the cabinet of Premier Winde. So what kind of integrity and ethics were used? It's double standards of hypocrites,” he said
Winde's spokesperson, Cayla Murray, said the allegation against Simmers was investigated and found to be “spurious”.
“It is disappointing that Good would make such a comment regarding Minister Simmers when they know full well that allegation was investigated and found to be spurious. We ask that Good act with integrity and honesty.”
Plaaslike Besorgde Inwoners (PBI) leader Virgil Gericke said he was still waiting for a response after he lodged a complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) against Hill-Lewis for allegedly saying he was “worse than a pig” during a live radio debate.
Hill-Lewis refused to comment yesterday, while the SAHRC commissioner said they were looking into the complaint.
On Madikizela's suspension, political analyst Keith Gottschalk said it's normal in politics that a scandal or smear will surface when you're “neck and neck” in competition with a rival, referring to the mayorship contest in the metro.
“The most important aspect of Madikizela's suspension in a political context is that the highest-ranking African leader left in the DA in the province has been rocked out of his political career.
“The DA will be under pressure to find other African leaders who can rise in their leadership structure,” Gottschalk said.