/ 12 December 2013

Holomisa, Mandela: Bond strengthened after expulsion

The United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa speaks about the achievements of the UDM
The United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa.

Nelson Mandela was renowned for his stance on reconciliation, and no one knows this more than United Democratic Movement (UDM) leader Bantu Holomisa.

Holomisa was one of the last people to see Madiba alive on December 5, and the Mandela family, based mainly in Johannesburg, tasked Holomisa with facilitating the preparations for the burial in Qunu in the Eastern Cape.

Like Julius Malema, Holomisa was expelled from the ANC when he was young and very popular. At the ANC’s 49th national conference in Bloemfontein in 1994, Holomisa topped the list of national executive committee members ahead of many respected ANC stalwarts.

The ANC expelled Holomisa after its national disciplinary committee found him guilty of bringing the party into disrepute for suggesting to the TRC that his cabinet colleague, then public enterprises minister Stella Sigau, had accepted a R50 000 cut of an alleged R2-million bribe when she was still a homeland leader.

The R2-million payment was made by hotel magnate Sol Kerzner to former Transkei leader George Matanzima for exclusive gambling rights.

The payment was investigated by the Alexander Commission appointed by Holomisa. It accepted Sigcau’s explanation and recommended that no steps be taken against her, although this did not deter Holomisa from repeating the allegations at the TRC all those years later.

‘We actually respected each other’
After his expulsion Holomisa started his own political party, the UDM, with former National Party cabinet minister Roelf Meyer.

In an interview with the Mail & Guardian this week, Holomisa spoke about his close relationship with Mandela, and how it became stronger after his expulsion from the ANC.

“His family is also kind and respectful towards me. When I give an opinion, they listen. They, and especially Mam’ uGraça [Machel] understand that Madiba wanted charity to begin at home.”

Holomisa was the programme director at Madiba’s oldest grandson Mandla Mandela’s first wedding in June 2004. He also directed the programme when Mandla was installed as chief of Mvezo in 2007, and later at Madiba’s 90th birthday celebrations in Qunu in 2008.

Holomisa first met Mandela in 1990 when he was still the military ruler of the erstwhile Transkei Bantustan and, in 1991, Madiba “assigned” him to build his Tuscan-style house in Qunu.

“If I were to write a book about our relationship or what we discussed, it would be a thick book with many, many chapters,” said Holomisa.

“We actually respected each other more after I left the ANC.”

‘Sarafina controversy’
Holomisa related how, days after his expulsion, Mandela was interviewed and asked about things he thought he could have handled differently. “He responded that the issue of Bantu and the Sarafina
controversy could have been handled better. When I heard that, I took it that Madiba had confidence in me and wasn’t part of the conspiracy to expel me from the ANC.”

He said, after hearing this, he visited Mandela at his Qunu home. “At the time, I was taking the ANC to court over the expulsion issue. So when I arrived at Madiba’s home, the summons was there on the table.

“I said that I had heard what he said about me … and that I didn’t want him to say any more.”

Holomisa then told Mandela that he was withdrawing the case and would no longer sue the ANC.

He also revealed that Mandela had often requested that he rejoin the party, saying that then-president Thabo Mbeki needed strong leaders like him. “Although it’s not easy to say no to Madiba, I said no.”