the arena of progressive thought

www.ziwaphi.com

ZIWAPHI • VOL 4 NO 15 • 9-22 July 2010 

NELSPRUIT

COPE’s only representative in the Mpumalanga legislature, Zale Madonsela, has been cleared of financial mismanagement by an independent auditing firm.

The party’s secretary in the province, Buks Mahlangu, and other senior members have twice since April tried to recall Madonsela because she had allegedly failed to account for R700 000 given to COPE by the legislature. They have also accused her of undermining the party by firing its Ehlanzeni regional chairperson, James Nkambule, from the constituency office. _Mahlangu is the first in line to replace Madonsela if she is removed from the legislature.

Rachel Kalidass, managing director of auditing firm R Kalidas & Associates, which was appointed by the legislature to audit COPE’s financial statements, confirmed that all the money spent by constituency office had been accounted for.

“All their financial statements balanced. As a matter of fact, they underspent in the last financial year. We checked all their papers and they received an unqualified audit report. There is definitely no sign of financial mismanagement on their part,” said Kalidass on Tuesday.

She said the audit had taken a month to complete and the firm’s report had been submitted to the legislature at the end of last month.

COPE researcher in the Mpumalanga legislature Sibusiso Shakwane said members of Madonsela’s office had always known that the allegations against her were baseless.

“We always maintained that this was nothing but a smear campaign, driven by power mongers and anti-COPE forces, to tarnish the image of the organisation and to dent comrade Zale’s integrity in the eyes of the public,” said Shakwane.

“We have received a clean audit, but we are aware that this may not mean an end to the drama regarding comrade Zale. Her detractors will not just disappear but will continue to fabricate lies and propaganda in pursuit of their selfish and narrow political interests.” _Shwakwane added that the issue had never been about financial mismanagement but about removing Madonsela from the legislature “at all cost”.

Madonsela, who has always maintained that Mahlangu’s accusations were a form of “character assassination”, said she was happy about the outcome of the audit.

“I hope this matter will be put to rest once and for all, because the auditors have proven that I did not misuse any money,” she said.

Mahlangu could not be reached for comment on Tuesday as his phone was switched off.