Penuell Maduna

Penuell Mpapa Maduna (born 29 December 1952) he was also a long-time legal adviser to his party, the African National Congress, which he represented during the negotiations to end apartheid.

His term as Justice Minister, under President Thabo Mbeki, was blighted by controversy arising from prosecutorial investigations into Deputy President Jacob Zuma on corruption charges. Maduna resigned from politics in 2004 and is now a businessman.

Life and career

Early life Born in Johannesburg on 29 December 1952, Maduna grew up in Rockville, Soweto. His mother and grandmother were both domestic workers, and the latter was a member of the African National Congress (ANC). and he has cited Black Consciousness figures as influential for him during this period. and he attended many of the ANC's early consultative meetings with white South African business and civil society representatives. After the ANC was unbanned in 1990, he became part of the ANC's delegation during the formal negotiations to end apartheid. In 1996, when the departure of the National Party from the transitional Government of National Unity occasioned a cabinet reshuffle, he was elevated to Ministry of Mineral and Energy Affairs. In 1999, newly elected President Thabo Mbeki appointed him Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development. He served in that office for a single term, resigning from the cabinet and from politics after the 2004 elections. He has since become chairperson of SAB Zenzele, a black economic empowerment partner of South African Breweries. He has also held senior positions at law firm Bowman Gilfillan (including the vice chairmanship), and business interests in platinum mining, property, and banking.

Personal life Until 2013 he was married to businesswoman Nompumelelo Maduna, with whom he has two adult children.

Controversies

Dispute with Auditor-General In June 1997, Maduna claimed in Parliament that the Auditor-General, Henry Kluever, had covered up R170-million in theft at the Strategic Fuel Fund. The Public Protector, Selby Baqwa, subsequently found that by making this claim Maduna had "violated the spirit of the Constitution," and he recommended that disciplinary action should be taken against Maduna. A specially appointed parliamentary committee also found that Maduna's conduct had been unparliamentary and had violated parliamentary rules. She repeated the accusation – which Maduna denied – in later years. The terms of reference of the Hefer Commission, a judicial commission of inquiry into allegations against Ngcuka, were extended to investigate whether Maduna had abused his powers at the NPA, and Maduna announced shortly afterwards that he intended to step down after the 2004 elections. but Maduna continued to defend Ngcuka against misconduct allegations by Zuma, leading to a highly public spat with the Public Protector Lawrence Mushwana.