The commission set to investigate the disappearance of R500 000 donated to the South African Communist Party (SACP) has not interviewed South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) president Willie Madisha or his witness, Madisha told the union’s general council on Wednesday.
”I’ve taken leave as the president of Cosatu [the Congress of South African Trade Unions] to allow the investigation to continue without my interference, and I’m waiting to be called.
”I will come running should the commission call me. I doubt it because I’m told the commission has completed its task.”
He said state machinery such as the police is being used against the leaders of the tripartite alliance. ”I will prove that state machinery has been used — affidavits I submitted to the police and those from my witness have been accessed by the media.”
He said his witness was harassed and threatened after the affidavits were made public in the media.
The commission was set up to investigate the whereabouts of R500 000 donated to the SACP by businessman Charles Modise. The money was allegedly transported in Madisha’s car to SACP general secretary Blade Nzimande, but Nzimande has denied ever receiving the money.
An emotionally charged Madisha told the meeting that he had been instructed not to talk about the issue and was talking because he was addressing Sadtu’s meeting.
He said that never before had it happened in the history of the African National Congress (ANC) and the alliance that leaders plotted, lied and planned to kill because of the ANC’s national conference. ”We see comrades moving around plotting against each other; it has never happened before.”
He said cabals have been set up physically to harm and finish comrades politically. ”People lie that after December there will be no friction within the alliance — that will be the beginning of the problem.”
Madisha received a hero’s welcome when he entered the conference hall. Members stood up, dancing and singing ”Madisha, my president”. — Sapa