Bonginkosi Madikizela

Bonginkosi Success Madikizela (born 15 March 1975) is a South African politician.

Bonginkosi Madikizela

MPP
Western Cape Provincial Minister of Transport and Public Works
Assumed office
23 May 2019
PremierAlan Winde
Preceded byDonald Grant
Western Cape Provincial Minister of Human Settlements
In office
26 May 2014 – 22 May 2019
PremierHelen Zille
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byTertuis Simmers
Western Cape Provincial Minister of Housing
In office
7 May 2009 – 26 May 2014
PremierHelen Zille
Preceded byWhitey Jacobs
Succeeded byPosition reconfigured
Leader of the Democratic Alliance in Western Cape
Assumed office
7 October 2017
Interim: 1 February 2017 - 7 October 2017
DeputyAlbert Fritz
Preceded byPatricia de Lille
Deputy Leader of the Democratic Alliance in the Western Cape
In office
18 April 2015 – 7 October 2017
LeaderPatricia de Lille
Preceded byTheuns Botha
Succeeded byAlbert Fritz
Member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament
Assumed office
6 May 2009
Personal details
Born (1975-03-15) 15 March 1975
NationalitySouth African
Political partyDemocratic Alliance
Other political
affiliations		United Democratic Movement
African National Congress
RelationsWinnie Madikizela-Mandela (aunt)
ProfessionPolitician

Born in the former Cape Province, now the Eastern Cape, Madikizela soon moved to Khayelitsha and became politically active in the area. He was a member of the African National Congress (ANC) and United Democratic Movement (UDM), prior to joining the Democratic Alliance (DA) in 2008. He was elected as a Member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament for the DA in 2009. Premier Helen Zille appointed him as the Provincial Minister for Housing.[1][2]

In 2014, he was named Provincial Minister of Human Settlements. A year later, in 2015, Madikizela unseated party stalwart Theuns Botha as deputy provincial leader of the DA. DA Provincial leader Patricia de Lille resigned in February 2017 and left Madikizela in charge as acting provincial leader. He won a full term in October 2017. In 2019, Madikizela became the Provincial Minister of Transport and Public Works.

Early life

Madikizela was born in the then Cape Province on 15 March 1975. His aunt was prominent anti-apartheid activist Winnie Madikizela Mandela. He has a Bachelor of Commerce Degree in Human Resource Management and a certificate in Information Technology.

Political career
Madikizela speaking at a DA rally prior to the 2011 municipal elections

Madikizela had previously been an active member of the ANC. He became prominent in 2005, when he led a group of disaffected ANC members in the Makhaza area of Khayelitsha who had been supportive of former Western Cape Premier and ANC Provincial Chairperson Ebrahim Rasool in his leadership battle with Mcebisi Skwatsha.[3]

After Skwatsha won the leadership election, Madikizela and some of Rasool's supporters in Khayelitsha claimed that they were being marginalised, and later excluded as possible ANC candidates for the local government elections in 2006. In early 2006, Madikizela along with several other ANC members, including some party councillors, were expelled from the party after it became known of their intention to contest the local government elections as independent candidates.[4][5]

Although he was not elected as a councillor, Madikizela remained politically active, joining the United Democratic Movement (UDM) in 2007. He was appointed the party's Cape Town Metro Regional Secretary until a party investigation found that he had secretly convinced party members to join the Democratic Alliance.[6]

He was subsequently hired as a communication officer at the City of Cape Town, and later a spokesperson in the office of former Mayor of Cape Town, Helen Zille.

He officially became a member of DA in October 2008. Following the April 2009 general election, newly elected premier Helen Zille appointed him to the post of Provincial Minister of Housing. He was appointed as Provincial Minister of Human Settlements following his re-election in May 2014.[7][8]

In April 2015, Madikizela was elected deputy provincial leader of the Democratic Alliance in the Western Cape, unseating DA veteran Theuns Botha.[9] He was subsequently named the acting provincial leader in February 2017, when incumbent Patricia de Lille resigned. He was elected to the position for a full term on 7 October 2017.[10][11][12]

Madikizela was appointed as Provincial Minister of Transport and Public Works by newly elected premier Alan Winde in May 2019. Madikizela is also the Leader of Government Business in the Provincial Parliament.[13]

In October 2019, he declared his intention to run for interim Federal Leader of the DA following Mmusi Maimane's resignation.[14] Madikizela dropped out of the leadership race on 11 November 2019.[15] John Steenhuisen was elected interim leader on 17 November 2019.

On 26 January 2020, Madikizela announced that he would consider running for DA Federal Leader at the party's Federal Congress.[16] He declined to run for the post on 10 February 2020.[17] He then declared his intention to seek re-election as provincial leader. In mid-November 2020, Madikizela was accused of plotting to assassinate his main competitor for the position, Masizole Mnqasela, the speaker of the provincial parliament.[18] The Federal Legal Commission of the DA "cleared" him of any wrongdoing on 20 November.[19] Madikizela was re-elected as provincial leader on 21 November.[20]

Controversy

In September 2010, the ANC called for his resignation after his answer to a parliamentary question from the ANC's Pierre Uys over the provision of housing in the Western Cape. Madikizela had said "unfortunately" there was no influx control to regulate the movement of people into the Western Cape. The ANC called for Helen Zille to fire him, angered that he had linked the provision of services to the apartheid policy of influx control.[21]

Mandela Park

Madikizela has been embroiled in a number of controversies surrounding housing developments in Mandela Park, Khayelitsha. He has been accused by the Mandela Park Backyarders as well as journalists of breaking a promise of giving residents of the community houses in new Mandela Park developments.[22] The controversy has resulted in large demonstrations and blockades against construction in the community.[23][24] The community of Mandela Park has also accused the MEC of refusing to meet with them.[25]

References
  1. "Return of the White Men". Mail & Guardian. 8 May 2009. Retrieved 8 May 2009.
  2. "Appointment of the Western Cape Provincial Cabinet". Cape Gateway. Provincial Government of the Western Cape. 8 May 2009. Retrieved 8 May 2009.
  3. Being black in the DA. Retrieved on 24 July 2019.
  4. Mtyala, Quinton. "Dissidents challenge ANC in local elections". City Press. City Press. Archived from the original on 10 April 2013. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
  5. Mariane, Merten. "Crackdown on ANC poll rebels". Mail and Guardian. Mail and Guardian. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
  6. Hartley, Aziz. "Madikizela recruited for the DA - UDM". Cape Times. INLSA. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  7. Zille appoints Western Cape Cabinet. Retrieved on 24 July 2019.
  8. Premier Zille’s new Cape cabinet. Retrieved on 24 July 2019.
  9. "De Lille crowned new Western Cape DA leader". Mail & Guardian. 18 April 2015. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  10. De Lille resigns as DA provincial leader. Retrieved on 24 July 2019.
  11. Bonginkosi Madikizela elected DA Western Cape acting leader. Retrieved on 24 July 2019.
  12. #WCcongress: Madikizela elected as DA’s provincial leader. Retrieved on 24 July 2019.
  13. Western Cape premier Alan Winde's cabinet a mix of old and new. Retrieved on 23 May 2019.
  14. Mailovich, Claudi. DA leadership race to replace Mmusi Maimane is in full swing, BusinessLIVE, 31 October 2019. Retrieved on 8 November 2019.
  15. Tandwa, Lizeka, Madia, Tshidi. Bonginkosi Madikizela pulls out of DA leadership race, News24, 11 November 2019. Retrieved on 11 November 2019.
  16. Charles, Marvin (26 January 2020). "Bonginkosi Madikizela says he will be running for DA leader role". IOL. Cape Town. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  17. Makinana, Andisiwe (10 February 2020). "Western Cape DA leader Bonginkosi Madikizela will not stand for federal leadership position". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  18. Deklerk, Aphiwe; Matiwane, Zimasa (15 November 2020). "DA Western Cape leader accused of plot to kill rival for top job". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  19. Deklerk, Aphiwe (20 November 2020). "DA clears Bonginkosi Madikizela of Masizole Mnqasela 'murder plot'". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  20. Evans, Jenni (21 November 2020). "Bonginkosi Madikizela calls for party unity after being elected DA Western Cape leader". News24. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  21. Mtyala, Quinton. "'People Must Come before Houses'". Cape Times. INLSA. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  22. "Sowetan: MEC under siege over 'false promise'". Abahlali baseMjondolo. 23 Sep 2009.
  23. "Hundreds Protested Yesterday". Anti-Eviction Campaign. 12 Nov 2009. Archived from the original on 2010-10-09. Retrieved 2010-10-07.
  24. "Construction suspended, still no official response". Pambazuka News. 9 Sep 2010.
  25. "Claims of illegal RDP sales in Mandela Park". WestCapeNews. 7 Oct 2010. Archived from the original on 16 September 2010. Retrieved 7 October 2010.
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