When Madibeng mayor Douglas Maimane was interrogated by the North West ANC last month about allegations of nepotism, he insisted there was “no relationship” between him and Bonolo Nkutshweu, an intern in the municipality’s treasury budget office.
This week, when confronted by the Sunday Times with evidence that Nkutshweu took him to maintenance court in 2018 when she was still a teenager, Maimane confirmed she is his daughter.
Yet bizarrely, he denied having lied to the ANC last month.
“The mayor did not misrepresent facts because no relationship exists between him and Ms Bonolo except that he is the father,” said Maimane’s chief of staff and spokesperson, Senzo Ncongolo.
“He further affirms he is the father of Bonolo Nkutshweu and has no relation with her.”
He said Maimane was “never asked whether Bonolo is his daughter and can never deny that reality”.
Ncongolo said the maintenance case brought by Nkutshweu showed that she did not have a relationship with the mayor.
“The simple fact that Ms Bonolo had taken him to court further indicates no relationship, hence the intervention through the courts,” Ncongolo said.
But it appears the ANC is not convinced by his explanation.
On Thursday, Maimane was put on special leave by the ANC.
ANC North West spokesperson Tumelo Maruping said the move followed an investigation into nepotism and other issues.
"The investigation is almost concluded. It must be understood though that, the special leave doesn’t suggest the mayor is guilty of anything," said Maruping.
It was "intended to allow the process to conclude without preconceived hindrances but also to harmonise the caucus of Madibeng municipality".
Maimane, 55, who was appointed in 2021, has since 2023 faced allegations that he appointed his daughter and a woman alleged to be the mother of his children, in the municipality.
Both the department of justice and constitutional development and the National Prosecuting Authority this week confirmed the case between Nkutshweu and Maimane
Nkutshweu was appointed as an intern in the treasury budget office on a 24-month contract.
Last month, in a statement to the North West ANC responding to the allegations, Maimane said “there is no relationship between Miss Bonolo Nkutshweu and myself”.
“I have no knowledge of the recruitment of Ms Bonolo Nkutshweu, especially because she is a junior staff (intern), as I do not get involved in such a process,” Maimane claimed in his statement, dated February 21.
The Sunday Times has since learned that Maimane was embroiled in a maintenance case before the Temba magistrates court seven years ago and that a subpoena against him was issued after he missed a court appearance in March 2018.
Approached for comment, Nkutshweu, 25, said she had applied for the intern programme advertised by the municipality.
“I was shortlisted because I met the requirements for the programme, with my highest qualification being NQF level 8. There was no direct or indirect influence in the process of securing this internship.
“I neither require nor seek favours from anyone. While Mr Maimane is my father, there is no close relationship between us that would have influenced this process in any way.”
The matter was cast into the public spotlight in 2023 when Maimane’s personal assistant Tshepo Mokate lodged a complaint to the ANC Bojanala district, raising issues of nepotism against Maimane, including the appointment of relatives.
Mokate later withdrew the complaint and apologised to Maimane, saying he had been aggrieved and had “failed to read a thin line between administration and politics”.
Both the department of justice and constitutional development and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) this week confirmed the case between Nkutshweu and Maimane.
Maimane had been asked to provide his payslip, proof of expenditure and a three-month bank statement. He failed to appear in court and a subpoena was issued. The case was later struck off the role when neither party pitched up at court.
The public protector is investigating the claims of nepotism against Maimane, and said last month the investigation was at an advanced stage.
In September, Maimane survived a no confidence vote. Save SA, a party represented in the Madibeng council, had tabled the motion following the allegations of nepotism.
Maimane is no stranger to controversy. Last October, a municipal bakkie that insiders claimed was carrying animal feed and doing “farm work” on his farm, rolled while being driven by a 35-year-old driver allegedly privately employed by Maimane.
However, Maimane alleged the bakkie was being used to respond to a life-threatening event at his home in Ramokatla, where an “attack was planned” on him.
In December the ANC Youth League in North West slammed Maimane for celebrating “mediocrity at the expense of accountability and good governance” after his municipality circulated a poster congratulating him for achieving a qualified audit opinion.
“While the municipality’s audit outcome may indicate some progress, a qualified audit opinion is far from an achievement that warrants celebration,” the Youth League said. “It highlights significant shortcomings in financial management, governance and accountability within the municipality.”
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