Western Cape DA leader Bonginkosi Madikizela File photo: African News Agency (ANA)
Cape Town – The ANC and Good Party in the Western Cape have called on Premier Alan Winde to remove Public Works and Transport MEC Bonginkosi Madikizela from the provincial cabinet
Calls for the axing of Madikizela, who is also the DA’s Western Cape provincial leader, come as it has emerged that he has allegedly lied about holding a BCom degree in Human Resources.
The issue was brought to light after media reports that Madikizela may have lied about his qualifications.
In his Western Cape parliamentary biography, Madikizela is said to possess a BCom degree in Human Resources and a certificate in Information Technology.
The DA issued a statement yesterday saying that the Madikizela matter had been referred to the DA’s Federal legal Commission by Federal Council Chairperson Helen Zille.
Madikizela yesterday admitted that he doesn’t hold the qualification and said that he has taken “full responsibility” for the matter.
“It is true that I did not finish (my) BCom degree. Having a degree or not did not advantage me in any of the positions that I’m currently occupying.
“I previously applied for the premier position and now for the position to become Cape Town mayor and a tertiary qualification was never a requirement for a political position in South Africa.”
Winde said: “I am deeply concerned by allegations that Minister Madikizela’s biography contains information which is not true, as well as claims that he misled a journalist in this regard, and welcome that this matter is being urgently investigated to determine the facts. I will also be meeting with Minister Madikizela later today (yesterday to discuss this matter directly, and will thereafter take appropriate action. It is in the interests of all parties, including our residents, that this matter be resolved swiftly, and it is my intention to ensure same. I will update the media in due course.”
ANC leader of opposition in the Western Cape Legislature, Cameron Dugmore yesterday called on Winde to suspend Madikizela, pending an investigation by the Legislature Conduct Committee.
“We cannot have an MEC going about his business with such a serious cloud hanging over his head. MEC Madikizela is alleged to have claimed that he has a BCom degree in the CV he submitted to the DA regarding his application to be considered as a Mayoral candidate for the City of Cape Town,” Dugmore said.
Acting Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka recently found that Madikizela had wilfully made false and misleading statements about Good Party secretary Brett Herron to the provincial legislature.
Gcaleka found that Madikizela had breached the Executive Ethics Code and lied to the legislature, saying that housing projects initiated by Herron in his time on the City of Cape Town Mayoral Committee had been halted by the courts.
“It has been a full two weeks since Premier Alan Winde has had to act on the public protector’s report declaring MEC Madikizela lied to the Provincial Parliament. Premier Winde is enjoined by the Constitution to give force and effect to the remedial actions as ordered by the Public Protector,” Herron said.
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