The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in Madibeng has issued a strongly worded statement condemning Solomon “MySol” Soka Madibela for what it describes as the betrayal of his former friend and business associate, Benjy Maponya.
In a statement dated 8 October 2026, the party said recent revelations show that Maponya was the true founder of the N4 Cluster mining operation. The project was contracted by Samancor alongside a company called VJ Coal for an open-cast mine at the Buffels West project.
How the partnership collapsed
According to the EFF, VJ Coal was later liquidated, forcing Maponya to seek a technical partner. He returned to Madibela, who was already a close friend at the time.
Shortly after the agreement, Maponya reportedly discovered discrepancies in the financial statements. This led to heated arguments, after which Maponya was abruptly cut off from his shares. He was then presented with a list of conditions – including divorcing his wife – if he wanted to continue receiving contractual payments. Maponya refused.
Tender re-awarded without notice
The EFF stated that Maponya later discovered the tender had been re-advertised and awarded to Madibela, despite receiving no notice of termination. The party noted that Maponya's contractual term through N4 Cluster was linked to the lifespan of the open-cast mine.
EFF's strong condemnation
“The EFF in Madibeng is disgusted by the lengths MySol has gone to gratify his greed, and his mocking of Maponya's personal circumstances. He has shown how deficient his character is of his integrity and honor,” the statement read.
The party added: “A man who mocks the suffering of another in public is not a man that can be trusted with the challenges and plights of the people of Madibeng.”