Riyaz Patel
Democratic Alliance (DA) deputy federal chairperson, Mike Waters, has squared up to his party leader, demanding that Mmusi Maimane clarify facts around his housing arrangements.
This stems from recent revelations showing that Maimane does not own the home he listed in Parliament as his property.
“If we hold the ANC to that standard and President Ramaphosa and the president before him, Jacob Zuma, we have to have that same culture within our party. I am convinced that the majority of the members and people that serve on the NMC and federal executive believe in those values,” said Waters.
He added that if Maimane could provide evidence that he’s paying for his home himself, it would give the party the assurance to deal with allegations head-on as they would have proof.
Maimane has been recorded to have announced to Parliament that he owned an R4mn Claremont house, and that he does not own it.
Maimane could be in hot water should someone report him to the ethics committee for this omission, as Parliament has “zero-tolerance” for misleading information.
Maimane recently issued a statement declaring he had no idea that, as a Member of Parliament, it was not necessary to declare the rental property as an asset.
Maimane has also been accused of driving a rental vehicle sponsored by disgraced businessman Markus Jooste ahead of the 2016 elections.
DA Federal Executive chairperson James Selfe conformed Sunday, according to report in Rapport, that the Toyota Fortuner driven by Maimane, was a gift from Steinhoff’s former CEO Markus Jooste.
Selfe reportedly explained that the car was owned by a rental company, but was funded by Steinhoff.
Maimane denied the allegations Sunday, tweeting that is was nothing but a smear campaign.
When asked about the house, Maimane insisted that he told Parliament that he was “renting” the home, and did not list it as being the owner.
Reports have emerged that the real owner of the house is Wessel Jacobs, a friend to Maimane and a Durban businessman.
Jacobs has spoken up and stated that the house is an investment property bought under one of his companies in 2017 and he has never lived there as Maimane does, he confirmed to be a trustee of Maimane’s family trust and a close friend, the Sunday Tribune reported.
Jacobs dismissed allegations of funding Maimane’s political career and stated that the property is rented at a market-related monthly rental and Maimane pays this rent through a contract observed and his company owns the property.
