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United Democratic Movement (UDM) leader General Bantu Holomisa remains resolute that he will continue lifting the lid on corruption – an act that saw him dismissed as a deputy minister in 1996 and led to his exit from the ANC.
This week Holomisa recalled a saga of bribery allegations against Sun International founder Sol Kerzner following the death of the 84-year-old tycoon last week.
Holomisa’s testimony before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) in May 1996 resulted in his dismissal as deputy environment and tourism minister in South Africa’s first democratic government after he revealed, among others, that the ANC had received a sum of R2 million from Kerzner leading up to the 1994 elections.
In the prior decade, on January 17, 1989, after two years of investigations, Kerzner admitted in an affidavit to the Harms Commission, which was to inquire into alleged murders and unlawful acts of the security forces, that he had “foolishly and stupidly” given R2 million to then Transkei prime minister George Matanzima in December 1986 in order to obtain the Wild Coast Casino licence. Kerzner eventually resigned as chairman of Sun International, but retained the CEO and chairman positions of the Kerzner International group.
Holomisa also gave testimony before the TRC that Matanzima paid Stella Sigcau, also a former Transkei prime minister and the country’s then public enterprises minister, a R50 000 cut from the R2 million for protection against possible bribery charges.
He said looking back at his dismissal, he held no resentment against the ANC leadership as his dismissal gave him “the freedom” he now has and led to him forming his own political party.
After being “branded a liar” by the ANC for also claiming that Kerzner funded the party’s inaugural elections campaign, he was “vindicated” by former president Nelson Mandela who, through the office of then deputy president Thabo Mbeki, confirmed that Kerzner, who at the time faced bribery charges, had in fact donated to the party’s coffers.
“President Mandela has confirmed that Sol Kerzner made the contribution to the ANC while it was fund-raising before the elections,” said Mbeki’s then spokesperson Thami Ntenteni in August 1996.
Holomisa also at the time claimed that then deputy president Mbeki’s 50th birth day celebrations were paid for by Kerzner, while also fingering the late sports minister, Steve Tshwete, for “accepting favours from the hotel magnate in return for protection against possible bribery charges”.
The UDM leader told City Press that his work was and still is “to continue the good fight and exposing any form of corruption or state capture”.
“Just recently, I went before the commission investigating the Public Investment Corporation (PIC). Again I made revelations of corruption. This is my calling, I will expose those trying to benefit at the expense of our people,” said Holomisa.
Last year the UDM leader again lifted the lid on a “cartel” of politicians, civil servants, investment advisers, asset fund managers and businessmen for allegedly turning the PIC into their cash cow.
In his bombshell testimony before the commission of inquiry into alleged improprieties at the PIC, Holomisa named former deputy finance minister and PIC chairperson Jabu Moleketi, PIC director Sibusisiwe Zulu and businessmen Lawrence Mulaudzi as the key players at the centre of the multibillion-rand self-enrichment scheme.
He went on to implore the Mpati Commission to probe the alleged role of investment advisers and asset managers, especially those outside South Africa.
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