Holomisa demands apology from the DA

In a letter sent to DA leader Mmusi Maimane on Wednesday, United Democratic Movement (UDM) leader Bantu Holomisa has demanded an apology from the DA in relation to its handling of former mayor Mongameli Bobani’s axing.

Bobani was removed from his post in a motion of no confidence last month after allegations emerged of corruption and that he was supposedly voting “with the ANC” against the coalition’s plans.

The motion was brought by the Patriotic Alliance and was supported by the DA, the African Christian Democratic Party and Cope. It was opposed by the EFF, African Independent Congress, the UDM and the ANC.

Holomisa said in his letter that a draft report by PricewaterCoopers had been used in a dubious manner to engineer Bobani’s exit. He challenged the findings of the report, which he said should have been viewed as preliminary and therefore not conclusive evidence of corruption on Bobani’s part.

He also challenged the view that Bobani had purposely been voting with the ANC when, in the UDM’s view, he had been voting against DA proposals the UDM did not agree with and which they had a right to vote against if they felt they did not agree.

The UDM is demanding that Bobani be reinstated. The conflict over Bobani has placed other minority coalitions in Tshwane and Johannesburg under strain, as it is understood the EFF has been boycotting council sessions in solidarity with the UDM.

General Holomisa wants Mmusi Maimane and the DA to publicly and unreservedly apologise for their "unsubstantiated" accusations. pic.twitter.com/XEba7ThehY

— Scapegoat (@AndiMakinana) September 13, 2017