WESTERN CAPE HOUSING MINISTER DISCUSSES THE WAY

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAPE TOWN 000110 SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/S FOR RMARBURG AND MJAMES PRETORIA PLS PASS TO AMCONSUL JOHANNESBURG E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/14/2019 TAGS: KDEM PGOV PREL SF SUBJECT: WESTERN CAPE HOUSING MINISTER DISCUSSES THE WAY FORWARD Classified By: Alberta G. Mayberry for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (U) On May 14, Poloff and CG attended a dinner in honor of newly elected Western Cape Housing Minister, Bongi Madikizela. Madikizela, a member of the Democratic Alliance (DA) is the only black member of the all male Western Cape Cabinet and is also the nephew of Winnie Mandela. Although he started his career as a member of the ANC, he was most recently the Spokesperson in the Cape Town Mayor,s Office. Madikizela was born in the Eastern Cape, spent some time in Kwa Zulu Natal and then moved to Khayletsha ten years ago where he as involved in the Khayletsha Development Program. He studied part time and worked at a local amusement park to put himself through school. ¶2. (C) When Poloff asked Madikizela what he thinks about the fact that there is an all male, predominantly white Western Cape Cabinet, he said the DA does not have a gender or racial policy and that out of the five women in the Provincial legislature, there was no one qualified to take the role as Minister. He also said most of the women in the DA were awarded positions in the City of Cape Town rather than in the Province since that is what they wanted. When discussing the racial composition of the cabinet consisting of three colored Ministers, six white Ministers and himself as the sole black Minister, he said that proportion is consistent with the make up of the DA and the Western Cape. (Note. There has been fierce opposition to Zille,s all male Cabinet with complaints by the SA Human Rights Commission, the ANC, women,s rights group Gender Links, and the MK Veterans Association, which is threatening to make the Province ungovernable. End Note) ¶3. ( C ) When discussing the recent mudslinging between Premier Zille and the ANC, Madikizela criticized Zille and said, &she was in the wrong8 with her comments. Of course, he also thought the ANC was wrong in their statements as well. (Note. The fight started when Zille called President Zuma a &self confessed womanizer,8 and suggested that he put the health of his wives at risk by engaging in unprotected sex with an HIV-positive woman. The ANC Youth League spokesperson Floyd Shivambu hit back by saying &Zille appointed an all male Cabinet so that she can sleep with them.8 MK Veterans head Abbey Maphatsoe said, &Zille appointed an all male Cabinet to keep its members close enough to satisfy her well-evolved wild whore libido.8 End Note) ¶4. (C) Poloff asked the new Health Minister what his top projects will be during his first few days in office. He said that there are five pieces of land that are located in densely populated townships such as Khayletsha and Kosovo within the city of Cape Town, but belong to the Province. He will deed these parcels of land to the city so they can start building houses. Additionally, he will approve the city,s housing applications so they can build more houses. In response to a question by the CG, Madikizela said he will be able to work closely with the National Minister of Human Settlements Tokyo Sexwale, noting that Sexwale is a friend. MAYBERRY