Minister named in sex scandal
2008-03-20 08:02
Cape Town - The Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs, Lulu Xingwana, is being sued for breaking up a marriage after an alleged affair with one of her senior officials.
Joyce Makgalake, wife of 31 years of the acting chief executive of the Land Bank, Phil Mohlahlane, is claiming for damages of R100 000 from the minister.
Xingwana, the third defendant, denies the extra-marital relationship.
Mamie Mojapelo, from Mamelodi-East, with whom Mohlahlane allegedly had been having a relationship since 2000, was named as the second defendant in the court papers.
Covered for him
The summons (of which Die Burger has a copy) was issued in Johannesburg High Court on Wednesday.
Xingwana was Mohlahlane's senior at work, at the Department of Agriculture and Land Affairs, when the adulterous relationship allegedly began.
It had long been claimed in agriculture circles that Xingwana covered for him.
Earlier it became known that Mohlahlane had used a cancelled identity document to buy property.
Xingwana indicated in a statement that her department had been aware of the two identity documents.
His old ID was declared void in 2000 when the new one was issued.
He was appointed as the acting head of the Land Bank in July.
After allegations of sexual harassment against him came to light, Mohlahlane went on extended sick leave.
He earlier already denied these allegations as well as accusations of corruption.
In the media it was alleged that he had sexually harassed a junior official.
The official was dismissed from her job in November after she apparently reported the harassment.
The case was reported to the The Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).
The minister said in January that no charge of sexual harassment against him had been received.
Saki Zamxaka was standing in for Mohlahlane.
Godrey Ndhluli, Xingwana's spokesperson, said on her behalf that the allegations that had been made against her were false.
At the time of publication she had not yet been served the summons.
A reliable insider told Die Burger that telephone records showed that Mohlahlane regularly phoned the minister and that some of the phone calls were late at night.
The second defendant, Mojapelo, was being sued for R200 000 over the alleged relationship.
According to the source Mojapelo had moved into the Mohlahlanes' house and had assumed the role of Mohlahlane's wife.
When Die Burger enquired at the Land Bank who his wife was, employees were under the impression that it was Mojapelo.
"His wife's name is Mamie, I don't know any Joyce."
"I only know Mamie," said an employee.
Various attempts to reach Mohlahlane for comment were in vain.