Dan Plato 'threatened' guesthouse owner

GREAT-BRAK RIVER NEWS - QUEENIE HAS NOW BEEN ARRESTED, but there is still some interesting information to read here!

Western Cape Minister of Community Safety Dan Plato reportedly told a Groot Brak guesthouse owner he would wreck his marriage and make his wife lose her job if he told the media his story.
Plato also allegedly said he knew "perlemoen smugglers and drug dealers who can turn nasty if you aren't on their side".

A few days later, former prisoner and now police informant, Queenie Madikizela Malema, who is alleged to work for Plato, was quoted in Die Son newspaper saying she had slept with Jacques de Bruyn, the owner of Wolwedans guesthouse in Great Brak.

Jacques' wife Nicky's expression melts with affection as she gazes at her husband and then laughs at the ludicrous thought of him in bed with Queenie.

Jacques and Nicky are so obviously very close and have a good marriage.

Drag queen
Queenie, a drag queen, stayed at the upmarket guesthouse from 9 to 30 September, running up a
R87 000 bill and then leaving in Nicky's Chevrolet Cruze, which she hired to Queenie and which has never been returned.

While at the guesthouse Queenie was, according to the guesthouse owner, on her cellphone on loudspeaker almost all day, every day, speaking to Plato, high-ranking policemen and correctional services bosses.
It was always "minister", "brigadier" and so forth. Also, there were police at the guesthouse visiting Queenie all the time. Jacques says that she once phoned the Worcester police, demanding that two of her informants be transferred to the Rawsonville jail, because she heard they would be killed if they remained in the jail where they were, and then spoke to the Worcester Mayor, Antoinette Steyn, discussing the jail transfer.

Granny in Worcester
Later, Queenie ran out of cellphone airtime and used the De Bruyn's landline. They have an itemised bill from Telkom with all Queenie's calls to Plato's cellphone, police and correctional services bosses listed. Queenie also often phoned her granny in Worcester.

Queenie paid cash for her first two nights' stay only, then after about a week, when Jacques said the bill needed to be paid, Queenie told him Plato could not do an electronic funds transfer because it would be traced.

Queenie then apparently dangled a carrot in front of Jacques, asking if he would be keen to offer his guesthouse as a witness protection haven. Jacques says: "I spent time in the SADF and I know this kind of informing goes on and this is how things work, so I said I was willing to do this."

At one stage, when Jacques told Queenie again that the bill should be paid, Queenie got Plato on the phone on loudspeaker and said in front of Jacques: "Mr De Bruyn is worried about the bill." Jacques says Plato's exact words in Afrikaans were: "Queenie, mnr De Bruyn moenie worry nie; hy sal betaal word. Moenie dit laat hoog loop soos vorige keer in Johannesburg." Jacques admits: "I didn't want to harrass the minister about the bill if they were busy considering using my guesthouse for informants or witnesses."

Nail polish
Nicky, who is a medical professional, describes Queenie as a master manipulator. She had them running around, buying her whiskey, cigarettes, biltong and even nail polish and make-up. The couple laid a case against Queenie at the Great Brak Police Station. "Police and Plato must know where Queenie is. Anyone could track her cellphone," Jacques points out. At one stage Jacques contacted Plato who agreed to meet him on 10 October at a Wimpy. At first Plato denied knowing Queenie. Later he said Queenie had only been calling him to get money, not as an informant. At the Wimpy Plato was accompanied by a "sidekick", Jacques says, a woman called Rojene, who guided Plato's words, saying: "Don't say this; don't say that."

After Queenie had not returned the car, things became heated over Whatsapp between her and Nicky. Queenie sent her a photograph of a man's foot with a metal spike through the foot, saying Nicky's son could suffer a similar fate.
However, Queenie also WhatsApped a photo of herself to Nicky, saying that when Nicky "goes to the papers, get them to use this photo of me", because it was a good one of her.

Nicky's insurance company has said they won't compensate for the car because technically Nicky lent Queenie the car. "I don't accept that. I'm going to the ombudsman," Jacques says.

Helen Zille
Jacques contacted Helen Zille via a political contact of his and apparently Zille called Plato in and questioned him about the Queenie issue. What appears to be a letter from Zille was sent to Jacques via the political contact. The Mossel Bay Advertiser has a copy of the letter. In it Zille apparently notes that Plato denied everything, saying Queenie was only trying to get money out of Plato and that Jacques should take action against Queenie, not Plato.
Jacques said Zille did not have all the facts at that stage, so she could not make an informed decision. "Helen would not approve of Plato's activities."

Charge against Plato
Jacques said he would continue fighting his case and would lay a charge of neglect of ministerial duty against Plato. "How has he assured my safety and security?" Jacques asks. At 20:30 on 27 November Plato apparently called Nicky back from a "private number" after she had phoned him at 15:00 that day. Plato said he was fighting with Queenie and that he had told her she was in big trouble. He told Nicky her car would be returned.

Likeable
Queenie was quite "likeable" at first and knew politics like the back of her hand the couple say. She had Jacques up, braaiing for her and her visitors at all hours - once at 2am. That evening two health department staffers had visited her. Jacques recalls: "This man and Queenie had an argument about Plato and Queenie was defending Plato." Although the health staffers had their own room, the one with whom Queenie had argued earlier, later joined Queenie in her room.

Wig
Despite the frustration at the injustice, there have been some light moments for the De Bruyns. When Queenie left on 30 September, her head was wrapped in a scarf and she forgot her wig in her room. Every now and then the De Bruyns' gardener would put on the wig, pop his head round a corner, imitate Queenie and make them laugh. Queenie was contacted for comment via WhatsApp on a number supplied by Nicky which Queenie had apparently WhatsApped her from many times. The answer to the WhatsApp was the following: "Good day I will forward your information to Queeny (sic) Madikizela this is not her number I work for 2 'years' ago i am sick of gettings messages of people…."

She was also asked for comment via facebook but did not reply.

Zille's spokesperson Jamie Turkington emailed the following, in response to questions from the Advertiser: "In line with his oversight mandate, Minister Plato regularly receives information and complaints from the public regarding matters of crime, policing and community safety. He then passes this information on to SAPS for any further consideration and investigation that may be necessary. He is required to do so by law, and the oversight mandate afforded to him by the constitution."

Community Safety MEC responds
Western Cape Community Safety MEC Dan Plato's spokesperson Ewald Botha emailed the Mossel Bay Advertiser thus, in response to questions put to Plato about his alleged threats to Groot Brak guesthouse owners Jacques and Nicky de Bruyn: "It is important to mention outright that this person (Queenie) has never worked for the Department or Ministry of Community Safety.

"She has never done any undercover work for Minister Plato; if she alleges otherwise, it is done without his knowing. Accommodation bookings for Minister Plato's personnel or departmental personnel are done and confirmed via a travel agency with the respective accommodation supplier before taking occupancy."
However, in an article in Die Son on Tuesday, 6 December, Veary Aim Vir Queenie, it is written that Major-General Jeremy Vearey, a policeman, said he was convinced that Plato "betaal Queenie vir al die liegstories wat sy so aandra. Sy is 'n bron wat deur Plato betaal word."

Neither Botha nor Plato denied that Plato verbally threatened Jacques and Nicky, the owners of Wolwedans guesthouse.

Botha stated in the email that the comment from Plato was as follows:
- I was not informed upfront (the day Queenie) booked into the guesthouse, that she had booked in. That is her own business.
- I was not informed by the guesthouse owner that Queenie use my name that I will pay his bill.
- I am of the opinion the guesthouse owner should at least have confirmed Queenie's claims with me. The guesthouse owner never phoned me for the whole duration of Queenie's stay.
- I only heard about Queenie's stay at the guesthouse when Queenie phoned me one evening during September 2016 after receiving many calls, while at a meeting. I said I'll get back to her after looking into the matter.
- I phoned Queenie back the next day and informed her that I am not going to pay anything.
- If Queenie informed the guesthouse owner about my decision, I do not know.
- Even up to my discussion with Queenie over the phone, there was not any telephone discussion with the guesthouse owner.
- I am of the opinion any guesthouse owner will make sure of the facts and at least check if claims made are true.
- I was phoned only when the account was already more than R70 000.
- I did not give permission for the use of a vehicle - billed for any account.
- I did not give permission for the use of a cellphone - billed for my account.
- I did not give permission for catering for police officials - billed for my account.
- The guesthouse owner should have confirmed with me from the beginning if I am going to pay. I asked the question why did he wait for a full month before phoning me and want to meet with me.
- I met with the owner because I have nothing to hide and I told him I never gave consent to pay the bill. I refused to accept any invoice and I told him that if he feels defrauded by her he should open up a case with the police as it has nothing to do with me.