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Bantu Holomisa

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The Honorable
Major General
Bantu Holomisa
MP
Holomisa delivering a speech in Khutsong, Gauteng in 2019
Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
Incumbent
Assumed office
30 June 2024
Serving with Richard Mkhungo
PresidentCyril Ramaphosa
MinisterAngie Motshekga
Preceded byThabang Makwetla
President of the United Democratic Movement
Incumbent
Assumed office
27 September 1997
Deputy
Preceded byPosition established
Deputy Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism of South Africa
In office
1994–1996
PresidentNelson Mandela
MinisterDawie de Villiers
Member of the National Assembly of South Africa
Incumbent
Assumed office
since 1994
4th Head of Government of Transkei
Chairman of the Military Council and of the Council of Ministers
In office
30 December 1987 – 26 April 1994
PresidentTutor Ndamase
Preceded byStella Sigcau (as prime minister)
Succeeded byPosition abolished
Personal details
Born
Bantubonke Harrington Holomisa

(1955-07-25) 25 July 1955 (age 69)
Mqanduli, South Africa
Political partyUnited Democratic Movement (1997–present)
Other political
affiliations		African National Congress (1994–1996)
Military service
AllegianceRepublic of Transkei
Branch/serviceTranskei Defence Force
Years of service1976–1994
RankMajor General
Brigadier (1985)
Unit141 Battalion
CommandsSouth African Defence Force

Bantubonke Harrington Holomisa[1] (born 25 July 1955)[1][2] is a South African politician. He is a member of parliament for and president of the United Democratic Movement.[1][2] and the current Deputy Minister of Defence.

Holomisa was born in Mqanduli, Cape Province.[1] He joined the Transkei Defence Force in 1976[1] and had become a brigadier by 1985.[1][3]

Holomisa forced the resignation and exile of Prime Minister of Transkei George Matanzima in October 1987[4][5] and overthrew Matanzima's successor, Prime Minister Stella Sigcau in a bloodless coup d'état[6] in December 1987. Holomisa then became the 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).[1]

National politics

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In 1994 Holomisa was elected to the National Executive Committee of the African National Congress,[1][2] and was the Deputy Minister of Environment and Tourism of South Africa.[1][7]

Expulsion from the ANC

[edit]

Holomisa testified to the 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.[8] The ANC then expelled Holomisa[7] on 30 September 1996.[9] 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.[8]

Founding of the UDM

[edit]

Holomisa co-founded the United Democratic Movement (UDM) in 1997[7] with former ANC executive member John Taylor and Roelf Meyer,[10] and was elected to parliament in 1999.[1][7]

Holomisa and the UDM supported a motion of no confidence in President Jacob Zuma on several occasions, including on 8 August 2017.[11][12]

Personal life

[edit]

Holomisa supports South African football club Kaizer Chiefs, for whom he declared his love in an interview with Radio 702 in 2015.[13]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "General Bantubonke Harrington "Bantu" Holomisa (profile)". Who's who of Southern Africa. 24.com. Archived from the original on 17 November 2007. Retrieved 14 December 2007.
  2. ^ a b c "Holomisa, H. Bantubonke (Bantu) – co-founder and president of United Democratic Movement". Contemporary African Database. The Africa Centre. Archived from the original on 4 October 2006. Retrieved 15 January 2009.
  3. ^ Pissarra, Mario (1 November 2001). "Holomisa, H. Bantubonke (Bantu)". Contemporary African Database. The Africa Centre. Archived from the original on 14 February 2007. Retrieved 15 January 2009.
  4. ^ Mgaqelwa, Abongile (8 August 2013). "Matanzima dies after hijack". Daily Dispatch. Archived from the original on 8 August 2013. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  5. ^ "Chief George Mzimvubu Mathanzima, former Prime Minister of Transkei, dies". South Africa History Online. 10 November 2000. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  6. ^ "Stella Sigcau dead at 69". Mail&Guardian. 8 May 2006. Retrieved 14 December 2007.
  7. ^ a b c d "Résumé of Mr HB Holomisa, MP". UDM. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 12 December 2007.
  8. ^ a b Mkhabela, Mpumelelo (2022). The Enemy Within. Tafelberg. pp. 12–13. ISBN 9780624091226.
  9. ^ "The rise and fall of Bantu Holomisa". African National Congress, Department of Information and Publicity. 30 May 1997. Archived from the original on 11 December 2007. Retrieved 12 December 2007.
  10. ^ Bell, Terry; Dumisa Buhle Ntsebeza (2003). "The nerve centre of apartheid". Unfinished business: South Africa, apartheid and truth. Verso. p. 30. ISBN 1-85984-545-2. roelf meyer udm founded.
  11. ^ "Holomisa: UDM will support DA motion of no confidence". 702. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
  12. ^ "Filcon scandal: fresh claims". www.onlinetenders.co.za. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
  13. ^ "Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates: Celebrity Fans - Goal.com". Goal.com. 4 November 2015. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
Political offices
Preceded byas Prime Minister Head of Government of Transkei
Chairman of the Military Council and of the Council of Ministers
1987–1994 		Position abolished
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