THE Western Cape Transport MEC Bonginkosi Madikizela has been suspended from his government post after revelations he has misled the public about is bogus academic qualifications.
Premier Alan Winde said on Thursday that Madikizela would be suspended for 14 days while an investigation determines all the facts regarding his “BCom degree saga”.
Winde says he took the decision following a meeting with Madikizela on Wednesday.
“I am deeply concerned that Bonginkosi Madikizela’s biography contains information which he has accepted is not true, as well as say that he misled a journalist in this regard,” said Winde.
“I met with minister Madikizela yesterday [Wednesday] afternoon, where I raised my concerns with him and asked for an explanation. During that meeting I made clear that acting with integrity is non-negotiable to me, and to the people of the Western Cape. I also made clear that I believe in fairness and due process, where all the facts are properly considered.”
Madikizela’s academic qualifications scandal emerged on Wednesday that he did not complete his degree, despite stating the contrary in his biography on the Western Cape government website.
The move spells bad news for Madikizela, who is also the leader of the DA in the Western Cape, and could put paid to his campaign to become the next mayor of Cape Town ahead of this year’s Local Government Elections.
Meanwhile, Madikizela has issued a statement, taking full responsibility for misleading the Daily Maverick.
On Monday, Madikizela told the paper’s reporterRebecca Davis over the phone that he had received the degree from Unisa.
Madikizela’s staff said that they did not have a copy of his CV and had no information about his qualifications.
The secretary of the Western Cape provincial legislature, Romeo Adams, told the publication that he could not supply a copy of Madikizela’s CV as the information was not on record.
After further persistence, Madikizela told Davis in a phone call on Monday that he obtained his BCom from Unisa in 1999 and had subsequently also earned an IT diploma from the National Institute of Information Technology.
Hours later, in a startling turnaround, Madikizela messaged to say: “I’ve noticed on my bio the (unfinished) is not on. I didn’t complete my BCom degree, I thought I should clarify that.”
An hour later, he messaged again: “My original CV clearly indicated (unfinished) because I didn’t complete my degree. I realized that on my bio that is not clarified”.
However, he maintains this never benefitted him in any way.
Madikizela is currently running for Cape Town mayor.
- Inside Metros