Political parties have reacted to the raid of two City of Cape Town mayoral committee members on Friday.
Western Cape’s Provincial Commercial Crimes investigators
descended on the offices of MMC for Safety & Security, JP Smith, and MMC
for Energy, Xanthea Limberg as part of ‘’forensic investigations which is from
a case that is currently running before courts’’, linked to tender fraud in the
province's construction sector.
Cape Town Mayor, Geordin Hill-Lewis has requested an urgent
briefing from SAPS to understand the details of this matter. The former Mayoral
Committee Member for Human Settlements, Malusi Booi, is among several people
facing tender fraud charges worth over R1 billion, linked to alleged notorious
Cape Town gang boss Ralph Stanfield.
The GOOD Party, who said it is ‘’shocked’’ at the raid, urged
the mayor and his officials to cooperate fully with the police.
‘’The raiding of the offices of Cape Town MMCs Smith and
Limberg demands an explanation from the DA and Mayor Hill-Lewis. This raid has
followed a similar process to that of former Mayco Member Malusi Booi. First
the raid, then the Mayor’s surprise, then his call for a briefing from SAPS. The
theatre is dishonest and disrespectful,’’ said Brett Herron, GOOD’s
Secretary-General & Member of the Western Cape Parliament.
‘’The Mayor and the administration must have been aware of
an investigation in which these two MMCs were allegedly implicated. Hill-Lewis
has a duty to share with the public what they are under investigation for and
when he became aware.
‘’The personal relationship between Smith and Limberg only
adds more fuel and speculation to an unexplained fire. Hill-Lewis must also
explain whether Smith and Limberg will be suspended, as he did with Booi, and
removed from their offices. If the investigation involves City matters or
corruption, then they cannot be in office.Their continued presence could impede
the investigation or at least give the perception of being in a position to
impede. The logical and consistent thing to do is to immediately suspend them,’’
added Herron.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in the Western Cape
said it is concerned about these allegations.
‘’The DA-led municipality has now been implicated in what
can only be described as a deep and systemic web of corruption, especially
within the housing and construction sectors. This corruption is particularly
damning, given the crisis of housing backlogs and infrastructure failures
affecting the people of Cape Town. It is no coincidence that these allegations
emerge in the same sector plagued by the ‘construction mafia’ and protection
rackets. The EFF has long maintained that political elements are behind this
phenomenon, and these raids validate our assertions. The DA’s administration
has not only failed to provide leadership in addressing this crisis but has
seemingly facilitated criminality and collusion at the expense of the people it
claims to serve,’’ said Leigh-Ann Mathys, EFF National spokesperson.
‘’The EFF calls for the swift and thorough prosecution of
all those implicated in corruption within the City of cape Town and the
Democratic alliance at large. We demand transparency in these investigations,
as they reveal the true nature of the DA’s governance model; one of the prioritises
profit and patronage over accountability and service delivery,’’ she added.
Police said their focus for now is on presenting a strong
case before court.
Done by: Mitchum George
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