Praise for the ‘General’ at birthday bash

If the “General” was in charge of South Africa, many more people would be languishing in jail for corruption.

So said colleagues and friends of erstwhile Bantustan leader Bantu Holomisa, the UDM’s president, at celebrations in his hometown of Mqanduli on Saturday to mark his 60th birthday.

The General, as Holomisa has been affectionately known since his time as head of the then-Transkei Defence Force, staged an even bigger birthday bash in Johannesburg in July, attracting many of the who’s who in the country, including former president Thabo Mbeki, ANC treasurer general Zweli Mkhize, advocate Dumisa Ntsebeza, business tycoon Sisa Ngebulana, and soccer supremo Kaizer Motaung.

However, Holomisa also wanted to celebrate the milestone with close family and friends at home.

On Saturday, Western Mpondoland King Ndamase Ndamase was among the guests.

Speaking at the event, UDM MPL Max Mhlathi said Holomisa had played a pivotal role in the upliftment of people in the former Transkei between 1987 and 1994.

But it was his renowned vocal stance on corruption that set him apart from other political leaders.

“If he was in charge of the country, we wouldn’t be in this dilemma. investors have withdrawn their monies,” Mhlathi said in a thinly disguised reference to President Jacob Zuma’s decision to replace Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene this month.

The move caused a huge public outcry, leading to thousands taking part in #Zumamustfall marches, and saw financial markets plummet.

In an address at the UDM’s fifth national congress in Bloemfontein recently, Holomisa said South Africans deserved a better government, and citizens should not accept mediocrity, incompetence and corruption simply because they were inflicted by a democratic government instead of a repressive regime.

He said thousands of protests took place each year in the country, the vast majority by communities frustrated by broken promises over basic services like water and sanitation.

Traditional chief and Holomisa’s former high schoolmate, Mzolisi Diliza on Saturday described his longtime friend as a visionary with “uncanny skill in solving complex challenges”.

Deputy Labour Minister and ANC MPL Nkosi Patekile Holomisa, who is Holomisa’s nephew, said his uncle had the respect of the ruling party, although it did not “broadcast” this. “He doesn’t just insult people for the sake of insulting them. We do listen to him but we don’t tell him that in public as the ruling party.”

Holomisa’s son, Mandla Holomisa, joked that he had to field questions from people wanting to know his father’s views whenever Zuma’s actions hit the headlines.