FedEx to discuss W Cape speaker’s ‘letter of demand’

Masizole Mnqasela with supporters who call themselves the Friends of Masi outside the Wynberg Magistrate's Court. FILE

Masizole Mnqasela with supporters who call themselves the Friends of Masi outside the Wynberg Magistrate's Court. FILE

Published Nov 29, 2022

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Cape Town - The DA’s Federal Executive (FedEx) will on Tuesday evening discuss “a letter of demand” tabled by the embattled speaker of the Western Cape Legislature.

In the letter, Masizole Mnqasela demands the withdrawal of the cessation of his membership.

This comes as the party terminated his membership after he called the no-confidence motion against him “strange”.

Mnqasela was given until 10am on Tuesday to re-apply for his membership following Sunday’s press conference, where he spoke out against the motion filed against him.

A FedEx-insider told Weekend Argus Mnqasela wanted the cessation to be withdrawn before noon on Tuesday.

“We would have met at 10am this morning already, but a quorum couldn’t be reached. Therefore, we’re now meeting at 8pm.”

The insider said there were “a few concerns”.

“So the caucus leader, Alan Winde, said he and Masizole couldn’t see eye-to-eye anymore. That’s the first thing.

“The second thing is the squabble about his international flights. You can’t leave the country without informing your own party. And the third thing is that he is neglecting his role as speaker.”

The DA’s Richard Newton confirmed that Mnqasela had submitted his responses.

“The speaker has responded to the party, and it will be discussed at the appropriate forum.

Earlier this year, the party’s Federal Legal Commission (FLC) recommended that Mnqasela be charged with misconduct over the results of an internal party investigation into allegations of irregularities pertaining to subsistence, travel and entertainment allowance claims.

Mnqasela, at the time, said: “As a seasoned democrat and fervent adherent to human rights and rule of law, I deem this action by FedEx as prejudicial, unfair and unconstitutional, and goes against the ethos of what we champion and trumpet as the DA.”

The offices of the speaker and deputy speaker have been embroiled in controversy this year.

This included a probe by the legislature’s conduct committee into deputy speaker Debbie Schäfer over her continued use of a luxury state-funded BMW she was no longer meant to have.

Mnqasela was also being investigated by the committee.

He allegedly hired an external law firm to probe the conduct of Schäfer instead of using the WCPP’s internal legal team.

Mnqasela was also investigated for discrepancies in the declaration of his interest in a family trust, something the committee found him guilty of. He took the decision on appeal. Hence, the appeals committee was brought to life.

Attempts to get comment from Mnqasela were not successful.

Weekend Argus.