Killing comes on eve of money talks

Controversial ANC funder Wandile Bozwana's house.

Controversial ANC funder Wandile Bozwana's house.

Published Oct 4, 2015

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Johannesburg - The brutal killing of controversial ANC funder and businessman Wandile Bozwana happened just days before the ANC was due to discuss the role of money in the affairs of the party.

Bozwana was recently accused of having financially influenced the election of Northern Cape Premier Sylvia Lucas as provincial treasurer of the ANC following the death of former treasurer and disgraced MP Yolanda Botha in March.

Botha succumbed to cancer while facing a multimillion-rand fraud and corruption charge along with provincial chairman and MEC for Finance John Block and MEC for Co-operative Governance, Traditional Affairs and Human Settlements Alvin Botes.

Block and Botes are due in the High Court Kimberley this month.

Insiders told The Sunday Independent that Botha’s death led to a fierce factional battle between Lucas and the former MEC for education, Grizelda Cjiekella-Lechuti, for the post.

Lucas belonged to the slate of provincial secretary Zamani Saul. Cjiekella-Lechuti had the backing of Block.

Lucas won and insiders said Bozwana played an instrumental role in those elections but his business suffered a knock.

“Several government departments, especially housing under Botes, had to cancel the lease contracts of buildings they had with Bozwana. Some of these buildings are in Kuruman and others in Kimberley. He lost a lot business as well while Block was in control.

“It was all because he supported Zamani Saul’s faction,” one of the sources said.

It appears that the ANC in the Northern Cape was still torn into factions and according to sources it became evident during the burial of Cjiekella-Lechuti last month after suffering from an undisclosed illness.

Lucas did not attend the funeral and was reportedly on leave and overseas.

The sources, however, said that it was due to the outcome of the contest between the two.

Bozwana is also known for being a fierce supporter of North West ANC members – known as Mapogo – who are opposed to Premier Supra Mahumapelo.

Exchange of money and factions within the ANC are expected to feature high on its agenda during its national general council (NGC) at the Gallagher Convention Centre on Thursday.

Last month, ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe confirmed that the NGC was due to discuss the role of Bozwana and others who have money within the ANC.

Mantashe was addressing the media following their last national executive committee (NEC) meeting, held in Pretoria.

“The NEC was emphatic on the need to deal decisively with the internal challenges that confront the organisation and defocus it. Corruption (perceived or real), factionalism, political ill-disciplines and the use of money to subvert internal democratic processes were identified as posing a ... danger to the unity and cohesion of the ANC,” Mantashe said.

He elaborated on this when he reacted to allegations that three ANC premiers, Free State’s Ace Magashule, North West’s Supra Mahumapelo and the sick Mpumalanga Premier, David Mabuza – commonly known as the Premier League – had financially influenced the outcomes of the past ANC Youth League and Women’s League’s national elective congresses held in September and August respectively. - The Sunday Independent

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