GOOD statement by Brett Herron,
GOOD: Secretary-General & Member of Parliament
18 February 2022
The Democratic Alliance plans to parachute unqualified and disgraced former DA Provincial Leader Bonginkosi Madikizela into a plum position as a Special Adviser to the Premier of the Western Cape – on the top remuneration scale.
The Premier this week replied to my questions confirming that he has motivated to the Minister of Public Service and Administration that Madikizela be remunerated at Level IV which is the top level of remuneration for Special Advisers to members of the executive (Ministers and Premiers).
Madikizela had to step down as a MEC in the Western Cape Provincial Parliament, and as DA Provincial Leader, after his ambitions to be the DA’s Mayoral Candidate for Cape Town were torpedoed by his own party. His ambitions came tumbling down when it was disclosed that Madikizela had for years claimed to have a B.Com degree which he did not have.
This closely followed a finding by the Public Protector that he had lied to parliament on an unrelated matter.
After a short spell in the wilderness the DA intends to compensate him for his special skills, and for dutifully making way for Hill-Lewis to become Mayor, by appointing him as a Special Adviser to the Premier.
Now it has been revealed that they also intend to pay him top-dollar. The law requires that members of the Executive motivate proposed remuneration for their Special Advisers to the Minister of Public Service and Administration.
The guidelines indicate that Level IV is the top tier and is reserved for Special Advisers that:
Are recognised as a competent expert at national and international level
Are persons with very high level skills and/or scarce skills.
And who will provide advice on complexity comparable to that given by a Director-General (Senior Management Service Grade D) in the Public Service .
Winde has disclosed that he has motivated for Madikizela to be appointed at Level IV and to be paid a remuneration of R 1,978 533.00 per annum.
Madikizela does not meet any of the guideline requirements. He is a professional politician with Winde saying publicly that he has lived without income for the last year. He is not recognized as an expert at a national level and international level nor does he possess “high level skills” or “scarce skills”.
This appointment is an abuse of the public purse by Winde and the DA to take care of a friend.
The DA is quick to criticize so-called cadre deployment by national government, as it should, and has even sponsored a private members bill to end the practise, yet it doesn’t practice what it preaches.
I have today submitted questions to the Minister of Public Service and Administration questioning whether he has approved this proposed remuneration level.
Media enquiries:
Brett Herron, GOOD: Secretary-General & Member of Parliament
Cell: 0825183264
Email: bretth@forgood.org.za
Samkelo Mgobozi, GOOD: Media Manager
Cell: 0792315977 (whatsapp)/0829684021 (calls)
Email: samm@forgood.org.za