Bantu Holomisa: Difference between revisions

{{Short description|South African politician}}

|honorific_prefix = [[The Honorable]]<br>[[Major General]]

|name = Bantu Holomisa

|image = Bantu Holomisa.png

|caption = Holomisa delivering a speech in [[Khutsong]], [[Gauteng]] in 2019

| office = [[Cabinet of South Africa|Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans]]

| term_start = 30 June 2024

| term_end =

| president = [[Cyril Ramaphosa]]

| minister = [[Angie Motshekga]]

| alongside = Richard Mkhungo

| predecessor = [[Thabang Makwetla]]

| successor =

|office1 = President of the [[United Democratic Movement]]

|deputy1 = {{plainlist|

* [[Khanyisile Litchfield-Tshabalala]]

* [[Nqabayomzi Kwankwa]]}}

|term_start1 = 27 September 1997

|term_end1 =

|predecessor1 = ''Position established''

|office2 = [[Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism|Deputy Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism of South Africa]]

|term_start2 = 1994

|term_end2 = 1996

|president2 = [[Nelson Mandela]]

|1blankname2 = Minister

|1namedata2 = [[Dawie de Villiers]]

|office3 = Member of the [[National Assembly of South Africa]]

|term_start3 = since 1994

|office4 = 4th [[List of leaders of the TBVC states#Transkei|Head of Government of Transkei]]<br/>{{small|Chairman of the Military Council and of the Council of Ministers}}

|term_start4 = 30 December 1987

|term_end4 = 26 April 1994

|predecessor4 = [[Stella Sigcau]] {{small|(as prime minister)}}

|successor4 = ''Position abolished''

|president4 = [[Tutor Ndamase]]

|birth_place = [[Mqanduli]], [[Union of South Africa|South Africa]]

|party = [[United Democratic Movement]] {{small|(1997–present)}}

|otherparty = [[African National Congress]] {{small|(1994–1996)}}

| data = <!--Military service-->

| nickname =

| allegiance = [[Republic of Transkei]]

| branch = [[Transkei Defence Force]]

| serviceyears = 1976–1994

| rank = [[Major General]]<br>[[Brigadier]] (1985)

| unit = 141 Battalion

| commands = [[South African Defence Force]]

| battles =

| awards =

| military_blank1 =

[[File:Major_General_(_Rtd.)_Bantu_Holomisa.jpg| Major General Bantu Holomisa, Charcoal Portrait on Paper by [[Amitabh Mitra]]|thumb|right]]

|url=http://www.whoswhosa.co.za/Pages/profilefull.aspx?IndID=950

}}</ref> (born 25 July 1955)<ref name="whoswho" /><ref name="cad6135">{{cite web

|work=Contemporary African Database

|archive-date=4 October 2006}}</ref> is a South African politician. He is a member of parliament for and president of the [[United Democratic Movement]].<ref name="whoswho" /><ref name="cad6135" /> and the current Deputy Minister of Defence.

Holomisa was born in [[Mqanduli]], [[Eastern Cape|Cape Province]].<ref name="whoswho" /> He joined the [[Transkei Defence Force]] in 1976<ref name="whoswho" /> and had become a [[brigadier]] by 1985.<ref name="whoswho" /><ref name="pissarra2001">{{cite web

|work=Contemporary African Database

Holomisa forced the resignation and exile of Prime Minister of Transkei [[George Matanzima]] in October 1987<ref name=dd>{{cite news|first=Abongile |last=Mgaqelwa |title=Matanzima dies after hijack |url=http://www.dispatch.co.za/11815/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130808011338/http://www.dispatch.co.za/11815/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 August 2013 |work=[[Daily Dispatch]] |date=8 August 2013 |access-date=31 August 2013 }}</ref><ref name=sahistory>{{cite news|title=Chief George Mzimvubu Mathanzima, former Prime Minister of Transkei, dies |url=http://www.sahistory.org.za/dated-event/chief-george-mzimvubu-mathanzima-former-prime-minister-transkei-dies |work=South Africa History Online |date=10 November 2000|access-date=31 August 2013}}</ref> and overthrew Matanzima's successor, Prime Minister [[Stella Sigcau]] in [[1987 Transkei coup d'état|a bloodless coup d'état]]<ref name="mg2006">{{cite news

|access-date=14 December 2007}}</ref> in December 1987. Holomisa then became the [[List of leaders of the TBVC states#Transkei|head of government]] of [[Transkei]] from 1987 to 1994, upon which Transkei was reintegrated into the "new" South Africa and Holomisa joined the [[African National Congress]] (ANC).<ref name="whoswho" />

}}</ref>

=== Expulsion from the ANC ===

Holomisa testified to the [[Truth and Reconciliation Commission (South Africa)|Truth and Reconciliation Commission]] that [[Stella Sigcau]] should be investigated for corruption. Holomisa stated that Sigcau was involved in accepting bribes from South African hotel and casino magnate [[Sol Kerzner]] when she was minister of public enterprises in the Transkei government of [[George Matanzima]]. Instead of investigating the accusations of corruption the ANC accused Holomisa of bringing the party into disrepute. Holomisa then also accused the ANC of also accepting funds and kickbacks from Kerzner.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Mkhabela |first=Mpumelelo |title=The Enemy Within |publisher=Tafelberg |year=2022 |isbn=9780624091226 |pages=12–13 |language=English}}</ref> The ANC then expelled Holomisa<ref name="udm-holomisa" /> on 30 September 1996.<ref name="riseandfall">{{cite web

}}</ref> Deputy president [[Thabo Mbeki]] was instrumental in pushing for Holomisa's expulsion and recommended that there was no need to investigate Sigcau for corruption even though the circumstances of Sigcau accepting money from Kerzner were not in doubt.<ref name=":0" />

=== Founding of the UDM ===

Holomisa co-founded the [[United Democratic Movement]] (UDM) in 1997<ref name="udm-holomisa" /> with former ANC executive member John Taylor and [[Roelf Meyer]],<ref name="bell2003p30">{{cite book

Holomisa and the UDM supported a motion of no confidence in President Jacob Zuma on several occasions, including on8 August 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.702.co.za/articles/250555/holomisa-udm-will-support-da-motion-of-no-confidence|title=Holomisa: UDM will support DA motion of no confidence|website=702|language=en|access-date=2017-07-23}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.onlinetenders.co.za/news/filcon-scandal-fresh-claims|title=Filcon scandal: fresh claims|website=www.onlinetenders.co.za|access-date=2017-07-23}}</ref>

Holomisa supports South African football club [[Kaizer Chiefs]], for whom he declared his love in an interview with [[Radio 702]] in 2015.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.goal.com/en-za/news/4656/features/2015/11/04/16972242/julius-malema-is-a-pirates-fan-pearl-thusi-supports-chiefs|title=Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates: Celebrity Fans - Goal.com|date=2015-11-04|work=Goal.com|access-date=2017-10-19|language=en-ZA}}</ref>

{{s-ttl|title=[[List of leaders of the TBVC states#Transkei|Head of Government of Transkei]]<br>{{small|Chairman of the Military Council and of the Council of Ministers}}|years=1987–1994}}

[[Category:Military personnel from the Eastern Cape]]