Auntie Pat’s Good party has lashed out at the “jobs-for-pals” appointment of former Democratic Alliance (DA) provincial leader, Bonginkosi Madikizela, as an advisor to Western Cape Premier Alan Winde.
Winde’s spokesperson Cayla Murray has confirmed to News24 that the premier intends to appoint Madikizela as his advisor pending vetting by the national department of public service administration.
Good party Secretary-General Brett Herron on Wednesday said the announcement of Madikizela’s “soft-landing appointment as a special adviser to Premier Alan Winde is a disgraceful example of jobs-for-pals, or what the DA calls cadre deployment.
“Madikizela resigned as an MEC in disgrace after being caught out lying about his qualifications and, separately, lying to the provincial legislature.
“It is said that his lack of a claimed degree was exposed by members of his party who wanted to remove him as a candidate for mayor of Cape Town.
Herron said Madikizela’s appointment as Winde’s advisor, “exposes the premier’s so-called government of integrity as a sham.”
Eight months ago, Winde suspended Madikizela from his position as MEC when it emerged that he had misrepresented his qualifications.
“While under suspension, Madikizela resigned as an MEC and Member of the Provincial Parliament after confirming that he had falsely claimed to have a B.Com degree in Human Resources – for over a decade that he served in the Provincial Cabinet,” said Herron.
Madikizela was also found by the Public Protector to have breached the Executive Ethics Act and Executive Ethics Code.
“His breach of the Executive Ethics Act and Code has never been dealt with because Madikizela resigned from Parliament before the premier was obliged to act on this finding,” said Herron.
“The role of advising the premier has no purpose other than to pay a handsome salary to a DA cadre.
“The premier has an MEC for Housing and an MEC for Transport – it is their mandate to advise him on housing and transport matters.
“Winde owes citizens, who will ultimately pay Madikizela’s proposed salary, an explanation.”