STATEMENT BY BRETT HERRON, GOOD SECRETARY-GENERAL AND MEMBER OF THE WESTERN CAPE PROVINCIAL PARLIAMENT
15 April 2021
PREMIER WINDE PUSSY-FOOTING AROUND INSTEAD OF HONOURING HIS PROMISE OF A GOVERNMENT OF INTEGRITY
- MADIKIZELA SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM OFFICE
- GOOD TO LAY CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST BONGINKOSI MADIKIZELA
Winde’s announcement today that he is suspending MEC Bonginkosi Madikizela in order to hear his side of the story and investigate his fraudulent claim to a degree is unacceptable.
Madikizela has already publicly admitted to lying about his non-existent qualification. There is nothing to investigate.
The National Qualifications Framework Act makes it a criminal offence for any person to fraudulently claim to hold a qualification (or a part-qualification) and provides for a sentence of imprisonment of up to five years.
This lie is not a trivial matter that the DA can pussy-foot around and treat as an internal matter.
Madikizela holds executive office in a Provincial Government. Holding that position places an extra duty of honesty and integrity on Madikizela and he has failed to meet that duty.
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 Madikizela for this breach of the Executive Ethics Code.
The damning findings of this report was enough to justify and require Winde’s immeadiate action to fire his MEC. A cabinet which includes a member who has been found lying to parliament is not a cabinet of integrity.
The response from the DA, Winde and Madikizela has been dishonourable and they are seeking to avoid accountability and consequences.
We will now lay criminal charges against Madikizela.
Ends..