Adv Dali Mpofu is a disgrace and a distroyer 1. Winnie Madikizela-Mandela In 1992, Mpofu was working as deputy to Winnie Mandela, who was in charge of the ANC’s social development department. The two had an AFFAIR, which ended acrimoniously (in March 1992, she wrote: “I won’t be your bloody fool, Dali”) and was widely cited as the primary cause for the subsequent DIVORCE of Nelson Mandela from Winnie. That aside, the real problem was R160,000 she had given Mpofu from the departmental account. In a letter to Mpofu, she wrote: “I tell you I’m in trouble with the Simmonds Street a/c which reflects over R160,000 drawn over a period for you.” It was later reported that a charge of fraud was being investigated against the two over an amount of R400,000. In May that year, Mpofu was sacked by the ANC and Winnie resigned. He threatened to sue for wrongful dismissal but never pursued the claim, saying years later: “I don’t want to comment on these things, these are old claims.” 2. Politicisation of the SABC board In 2005, Mpofu was appointed group CEO of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), a position he held until 2009, when he was fired. The SABC board at the time, never apolitical, was one of the most politically loaded in South Africa’s post-1994 history and the organisation was routinely dragged over the coals for perceived bias and “ANC- friendly” propaganda. Among others, board chairman Eddie Funde had a list of ANC credentials that ran from managing the placement, education and training of hundreds of young ANC exiles during the 1970s to serving on the ANC’s national executive committee as recently as 2002. Another board member (later to replace Mpofu), Solly Mokoetle, ran Radio Freedom for the ANC in exile, and when Cecil Msomi was not serving the public broadcaster, he was working as communications director for the KwaZulu-Natal premier — employed by the ANC government to promote the political message and programme of action of its premier in that province. Head of news and former ANC member Snuki Zikalala once said the party was “in his blood”. When the SABC wasn’t appeasing the ANC, it was defined by chaos. Sue Vos, a longstanding member of the parliamentary portfolio committee on communications, recently wrote: “It was simply mind-boggling to see how dramatically the corporation had been brought to its knees by group CEO advocate Dali Mpofu and his team and a highly political board wracked by infighting.” 3. SABC bail-outs As is standard operating procedure nowadays, the SABC under Mpofu was regularly bailed out by the national government as its financial management spiralled ever downwards. In 2006-07 it had to be bailed out to the value of R119m, and again in 2007-08, to the value of R132m. In 2009, Mpofu’s final year in charge, it required a whopping R780m extra to keep running. It was estimated in 2009 that a full recapitalised would cost about R4.2bn. Conclusion Of those numerous controversies surrounding Mpofu, it is remarkable how many involved money, which seems disproportionately important to the man. Well, that is, as far as his money goes. When it comes to other people’s money, his record suggests a more cavalier attitude. The likes of Mboweni might well mourn the loss but Mpofu’s democratic contribution has hardly been sterling. Against his track record in public office, perhaps it makes sense that he finds himself with the EFF. After all, if the likes of Malema and Kenny Kunene are anything to go by, the EFF seems to attract people with two main characteristics: personal opulence and a feigned love for the poor. And, in its populist socialism, it has the perfect recipe to ensure, if ever enacted, that all South Africans will well and truly be poor beyond their wildest dreams. In the meantime, please donate — its members have a certain lifestyle that must be maintained. WATCH OUT Mpofu! Hes a killer!
Posted on: Sat, 16 Nov 2013 11:51:57 +0000
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