The news site is owned by Patriotic Alliance co-founder Kenny Kunene and was the brainchild of former Sunday Independent editor Steven Motale, who served as its editor before becoming Sisulu\u2019s spokesman in November 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But her most audacious gambit as RET stalking-horse emerged on 7 January this year when she put her name to the now infamous open letter, titled Hi Mzansi, have we seen justice?<\/a>, published a day ahead of President Cyril Ramaphosa delivering the ANC\u2019s annual January 8th<\/sup> statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In an extraordinary assault on the constitution and the judiciary, Sisulu wrote, \u201cThe most dangerous African today is the mentally colonised African. And when you put them in leadership positions or as interpreters of the law, they are worse than your oppressor\u2026. In America, these interpreters are called House Negroes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n There followed an embarrassing sequence in which Sisulu was summoned by the president to account for the article, the presidency issued a statement claiming she had retracted and apologised, the Sisulu camp responded with a fierce denial (effectively accusing Ramaphosa of lying) and the presidency simply reiterated its statement and called the matter closed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many observers believed that Sisulu was deliberately provoking Ramaphosa to fire her and in so doing kick-start her campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But a tipoff from a former senior official in Sisulu\u2019s department raised a different scenario.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sisulu, the source claimed, was not in full control of her own destiny.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the contrary, they alleged, she was in the thrall of a cabal around her, but most importantly she was being manipulated by her long-time aide and political advisor, Mphumzi Mdekazi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis is the behaviour of an abused woman,\u201d the source alleged, saying he had personally witnessed the minister crying after interacting with Mdekazi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe minister has become unrecognisable as a result of her relationship with him. She used to be decisive; now she has wilted, she has shrunk,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We were skeptical about such claims in the context of a looming ANC elective battle characterised by acrimonious factional disputes \u2013 and all the more so where the allegation was potentially seen as a sexist attack on the agency of a senior woman politician.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But we had flagged<\/a> Mdekazi\u2019s role before \u2013 as had other media<\/a> \u2013 and after weeks of investigation, after talking to a slew of Sisulu\u2019s current and former staff and associates (many of whom are still protective of her) \u2013 and after investigating Mdekazi\u2019s background and conduct \u2013 it became clear to amaBhungane that the claims had distinct bearing on matters of governance and effective political leadership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n AmaBhungane cannot say if the association is a sexual one \u2013 and it hardly matters: the allegations that have come to light paint Sisulu as something of a pawn in a bigger political game by Mdekazi and his allies \u2013 but also as a victim whose relationship with him has alienated members of her staff and her family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Both Sisulu and Mdekazi have vehemently denied the allegations as we detail further below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mdekazi opted to respond through his wife, Andiswa, but both he and the minister are represented by the same lawyer. Co-incidently, metadata on the responses in the names of Andiswa Mdekazi and Sisulu suggest both documents were created by Motale, Sisulu\u2019s spokesperson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The talented Mr Mdekazi<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n One source who has close proximity to Sisulu and has worked with her for years, spoke to amaBhungane on condition of anonymity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The source accused Mdekazi of using Sisulu to advance his own political aspirations: \u201cMdekazi intimidates her and he uses her name. She backs him through her actions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHe would tell officials, \u2018The minister wants you to do X or Y\u2019\u2026 He would [sometimes] run his diary to override hers. She would say to her team, \u2018I don\u2019t know anything about this event\u2019, but then she would cancel her formal programme for him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n A former senior water official who has previously clashed with Sisulu, told amaBhungane, \u201cMphumzi even has this woman\u2019s electronic signature, so some of the appointments that we say were done by Lindiwe were in fact done by Mphumzi.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The source conceded they had no direct knowledge of this but had been informed of this allegation by other officials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sisulu has denied this claim, stating that only one person, Zoey Adams, was the custodian of her electronic signature. She said, \u201cAny letter that indicates my name is signed by myself and by no other person. So, I challenge you on the basis of accurate and truthful reporting to produce just one letter that was not done by me or signed by a third party with my signature.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, amaBhungane has spoken to another official from the ministry who said that while they personally were not aware if Mdekazi had access to the minister\u2019s electronic signature, this was possible as to their own knowledge more than one official had such access: \u201cIn any case, he would never struggle to get her signature; he would come in and put things in front of her and she would sign it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another source, a senior member of the minister\u2019s entourage, confirmed Mdekazi\u2019s influence and said, \u201cLetters would arrive typed and signed somewhere else, not through the department or ministerial register. It\u2019s very counterproductive; he is cushioned and protected by the minister at the expense of her personal staff.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n A former member of the ministerial Rapid Response Task Team said on multiple occasions they had witnessed Mdekazi use Sisulu\u2019s cellphone to send text instructions on projects without consulting Sisulu. Allegedly she would later be confused and ask her staff about who had sent the messages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yet another source claimed that many of the decisions made in the water ministry at the time Sisulu was there were actually made by Mdekazi: \u201cYes, it\u2019s 100% true,\u201d said the source.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI think he\u2019s got a lot of influence. I don\u2019t really know what the nature is of their relationship, but\u2026 the minister believes him blindly, she doesn\u2019t question anything that he has to say\u2026 He directs what the minister thinks and does, that has been my experience.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sisulu said amaBhungane\u2019s questions were \u201cslanderous\u201d and \u201c[expose a] sinister agenda to discredit me ahead of the ANC\u2019s forthcoming elective conference\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat I find highly troubling is your line of questioning, which is defamatory, speculative and insulting in nature\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe aim of those who use you for these personal attacks, is to portray me as someone who is unethical, incompetent, and an individual of very low moral standing who is barely in charge of her own life, yet aspires to lead a nation of more than 50 million people. \u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sisulu accused amaBhungane of attempting to vilify her and to \u201cshow South Africa and the world that I\u2019m not leadership material\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIn my opinion of Mr. Mdekazi he is hated because he fights and confronts corruption, so many of his casualties will always cry foul, that is one of the reasons I have full confidence in him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Andiswa Mdekazi told amaBhungane, \u201cI wish to take this opportunity to address you and the questions you have asked my husband Mphumzi Mdekazi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou asked my husband to confirm if he is in a romantic relationship with Minister Sisulu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLegally and socially I am the only custodian of that question, not you or your so-called sources, including your handlers that are pushing you to do what you are doing\u2026 I can confirm and assure you that Mphumzi is not a homosexual man, he likes women and maybe that bothers you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI am upset that you seek to tarnish the reputation of my husband whilst being fully aware he is [a] father. Do you care the least that such gossip and sensationalism by you can have a direct effect on my minor children? If your interest is the Minister, Mr Mdekazi or anything work related I agree you may pose the question. However, gossip mongering about my husband is unethical and baseless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo, for the record, Minister Sisulu is a family friend of mine. She is a friend to me more than she is to Mphumzi. It was me who introduced her to Mphumzi a long time ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf you want to destroy Minister Sisulu politically, go and do that without using Mphumzi and my family life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A \u2018reign of terror\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Since Mdekazi\u2019s arrival in Sisulu\u2019s life, she appears to have lost a number of staff who were loyal to her for decades, both in the ministry and in her home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One staff member who worked in Sisulu\u2019s office said, \u201cHe is a monster, he is a bully and he is a dictator. He thinks everyone who is close to the minister is a threat.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The staffer said prior to Mdekazi\u2019s arrival, they and Sisulu had a great relationship but things soured after the staffer stood up to Mdekazi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHe would call me to make bookings and when I would tell him that is not how things are done, he would hurl profanities at me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another staff member claimed they witnessed Sisulu giving Mdekazi money on more than one occasion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHe was always after money. The minister was always withdrawing for him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf anybody gets in his way, he will destroy that person \u2013 he has no remorse. He only thinks about money for himself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The person alleged they became a target after seeing Mdekazi taking money out of the minister\u2019s handbag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Andiswa said amaBhungane was guilty of conducting an \u201cadventurous fishing expedition\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou do that by even claiming that the Minister once took money and gave it to Mphumzi. Whether this occurred or not, one needs to actually needs to state a time period this occurred at such that Mphumzi can respond\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sisulu said, \u201cIt is fair to state that staff have left a portfolio I have been involved in or headed however, there is nothing untoward in this and this happens with every Minister. If you require any substantial response regarding staff who left due to Mr. Mdekazi kindly provide us with further details such that I can respond adequately to the question.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Several sources who have had working relationships with both Mdekazi and Sisulu alleged that Mdekazi also physically bullied Sisulu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One, who is admittedly hostile to Mdekazi, said, \u201cYou know they are in a relationship right? It\u2019s an open secret\u2026 He controls her.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another source who has worked closely with both Sisulu and Mdekazi told amaBhungane that their relationship was an open secret. He also claimed he had personally spoken to Mdekazi after he had seen bruises on Sisulu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sisulu told amaBhungane, \u201cYou insinuate that I am threatened and beaten up by Mr. Mdekazi\u2026 I always stand my ground and fight for what I believe in. I am a trained soldier and would act in accordance with the law should I be attacked or my life threatened. You laughably indicate that I am being beaten up by my staff and a civilian? I invite you to share any cogent evidence which you base this laughable contention upon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo to answer your questions, I have never been abused or threatened including intimidated by any man in my life. I will never be abused or intimidated by any man including you, be it physically, psychologically or emotionally.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n History <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Mdekazi has elicited such allegations before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n His estranged daughter Okuhle Khatshwa told us, \u201cIn 2014 he beat me to a pulp. He beat me with a stick in the car and I couldn\u2019t even run. All I could do was cover my face\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She said all she had done was take a trip to Paarl without asking for Mdekazi\u2019s permission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Khatshwa alleged he continued the beating when they got home and, after her father had left, Mdekazi\u2019s wife took her to hospital and told her to say the bruises had come from a netball injury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat is the day I told myself that my father had died and I haven\u2019t associated myself with him since then.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Khatshwa\u2019s version was broadly corroborated by another member of her family, who asked not to be identified.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Confronted with these allegations, Mdekazi\u2019s wife said, \u201cI would like to challenge you to produce the medical records being either a J88 or medical notes in a redacted form to substantiate your allegations, because Mphumzi is not a violent person as far as I am concerned\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe truth is, there is no basis for these allegations except to ruin a man\u2019s reputation for reasons unbeknown to us. I am putting it to you that no such incident ever took place.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Isolated<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Our original tipster said, \u201cMpumzi\u2019s currency is to keep her [Sisulu] paranoid\u2026 He frequently accuses her of cheating on him. He has come between her and her family. He has isolated her from the people who love her, including her son.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n AmaBhungane has listened to a WhatsApp voice note between the former Chief Executive of the Amatola Water Board Vuyo Zitumane and a person alleged to be Olindi Sisulu, Minister Sisulu\u2019s youngest son.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The message appears to have been about an altercation between Mdekazi and Olindi. It has been suggested to amaBhungane that Olindi Sisulu was defending his mother or retaliating on her behalf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the recording Olindi Sisulu could be heard saying to Zitumane, \u201cI need your help to help me take him down. I even got into a fight with him. I sent him\u2026 I have broken his ribs because I was so angry. Ya, I hurt him. I broke his rib. They want to open a case against me, so I really want to help you Ma\u2019am.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Olindi Sisulu declined to speak to amaBhungane about the recording or the alleged incident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Zitumane also declined to comment or confirm the authenticity of the recording, but her erstwhile lawyer appears to have alluded to the incident on a previous occasion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In an interview with the Daily Dispatch published in July 2021, Zitumane\u2019s then attorney, Java Mama, told the newspaper that what he called Sisulu\u2019s \u201cobsession\u201d with Zitumane had \u201cmoved a young man, who claimed to have fought one of her advisers and broken his ribs, to call Miss Zitumane and plead for a truce\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another source amaBhungane spoke to said Olindi had confided in them personally, confirming the incident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Andiswa Mdekazi did not respond at all to this claim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sisulu said, \u201cIt is the will of ANC branches that will prevail in December and they will never be swayed by propaganda tools like AmaBhungane, no matter how hard you try to discredit myself, my children and my family, which I state is disgusting to say the least. My children are not people of public interest and I suggest that you keep them out of your warfare against me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mphumzi\u2019s story<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n So who exactly is Mphumzi Mdekazi?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prior to being appointed as Sisulu\u2019s political advisor in 2017 when she was Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Mdekazi served as a researcher in parliament. He has since moved with Sisulu through each ministerial change (to Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation and then to Tourism).<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to our original informant, Mdekazi approached Sisulu shortly after her husband Rok Ajulu passed away in December 2016, and offered to write a book about the Sisulu family. The book never transpired, but Mdekazi embedded himself into her life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The senior member of the minister\u2019s entourage told us, \u201cMphumzi came into the Sisulu office about six months before Nasrec [the ANC\u2019s December 2017 conference].<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHe sold himself as a mature student at Stellenbosch.. He proposed doing a movie or publicity documentary on her because she doesn\u2019t get proper credit for what she does and everyone around her is useless.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mdekazi describes himself as \u201cpolitical advisor\u201d to Sisulu, a member of the ANC at AB Xuma Branch in the Boland Region, and a PhD candidate at Stellenbosch University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n His LinkedIn profile discloses that he served as researcher and advisor to the parliamentary portfolio committees for the education, arts and culture, sport and recreation, and science and technology clusters between 2007 and 2017, and before that a project manager for the publication arm of the Human Sciences Research Council, HSRC Press.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In February this year, amaBhungane visited the village of Lower Didimana, Mdekazi\u2019s childhood home, 28 kilometres outside Whittlesea in the Eastern Cape, where we had been told Mdekazi was building his \u2018Nkandla\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n That turned out to be an exaggeration, but other rumours of Mdekazi\u2019s iron grip on the village appeared to have more substance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Between two mountains stood modest homes in desperate need of maintenance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Amid these was a large house that had recently been built.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A few metres from this house another was under construction. The yard was littered with building material and villagers told us that these houses are what Mdekazi calls home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In February 2017, Sisulu publicly adopted Velalanga High School in Lower Didimana, which is Mdekazi\u2019s former school \u2013 and his wife\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to a local news report<\/a>, the following month Sisulu handed over 20 computers to the school.<\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Andiswa told amaBhungane, \u201cFor the record, the intention for the adoption of the school was a culmination of my discussions with Minister Sisulu, not any other person.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sisulu said, \u201cI have adopted many schools in my life and I don\u2019t need your permission to do so, as these are private engagements.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n A village elder said shortly after the donation of computers, Mdekazi brought a company to drill boreholes at Velalanga and promised to return and build a stadium, though this had not materialised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As we spoke to more people however, the criticism began and villagers spoke of a man who was a bully and who was feared in the village.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHe hosted a ceremony last year and we as the villagers attended. While we were still enjoying ourselves, he began insulting us. He told us to eat because that\u2019s all we were there for. He said he knows we don\u2019t have food in our homes,\u201d said the villager.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHe is like that, he is a bully because he knows that nobody will challenge him since he has all the ANC connections,\u201d said Mdekazi\u2019s distant family member.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The anecdotes became more troubling as more people spoke out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A relative alleged that during a family gathering towards the end of last year, a disagreement ensued between Mdekazi and another family member, named only as Mphathiswa, which led to Mdekazi allegedly attacking the man in full view of witnesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe tried to resolve the matter as a family but because most of the family members are unemployed and Mphumzi takes care of them financially, they were all hesitant to reprimand him,\u201d said the relative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another relative who witnessed the incident said, \u201cHis [family member] didn\u2019t open a case because we all know Mphumzi is connected. He\u2026 has all the resources to make the case disappear so there was no point.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Contacted for comment, Mphathiswa said the matter was \u201csensitive\u201d and declined to comment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Andiswa said, \u201cLast year in December we had no ceremony (where Mphumzi assaulted an elder, animal, child or whatever) in the village. So almost all your questions are misplaced and are akin to an unguided missile and thus dangerous, speculative and are based upon conjecture.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Murky waters<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Mdekazi first came to amaBhungane\u2019s attention<\/a> in 2020 in the course of the conflict between Sisulu and Zitumane, then CEO of Amatola Water \u2013 and a similar dispute involving then chief executive of Lepelle Northern Water Phineas Legodi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/amabhungane.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Screenshot-2023-02-10-at-11.29.37-1024x381.png\")
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