Political parties reacts to former MMC Booi's arrest

Various political parties in the Western Cape has called on the City of Cape Town to conduct audit on all Mayoral Committee Members in the metro, following the arrest of a former MMC for Human Settlements.

Malusi Booi and nine others appeared in the Cape Town Magistrate's Court, on Wednesday. They face charges of money laundering, racketeering, corruption and extortion fraud.

Booi's office was raided by the Hawks in March 2023, where several items were seized. He was later fired as MMC and he subsequently resigned as a DA councillor in the metro.

‘’The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Banzi Dambuza wants all those involved to be held accountable and arrested. The Economic Freedom Fighters in Cape Metro demand that the allegations of corruption within the Democratic Alliance (DA) MMC ranks be addressed with the utmost seriousness and urgency. We call for stringent punishment for those found guilty of corruption, which has become a pervasive issue in the DA's leadership,’’ said Mzubanzi Dambuza, EFF Regional Secretary.

‘’We demand the removal of DA MMC members implicated in criminal activities, including Water and Sanitation Mayco member Zahid Badroondien, who admitted to tampering with an electricity meter and paid a fine. We call upon law enforcement agencies to investigate MMC for Energy, Cllr Beverley van Reenen, who is accused of misusing funds for personal gain. The EFF will not tolerate corruption in any form, and we will continue to expose the DA for what it is,’’ he added.

The GOOD party questioned the City’s ‘clean audit’ report.

‘’The Mayor and the City Manager would also be wise to stop confusing the public with the continued narrative of a “Clean Audit”. This case brings into question the credibility of these “Clean Audits” if this matter was raised by officials back in 2020,’’ said Suzette Little, GOOD City of Cape Town Councillor & Caucus Chairperson.

‘’Mayor Hill-Lewis must come clean and act transparently if he is serious about clean governance, and this includes sharing info with the public he was elected to serve and ensuring accountability where there was mismanagement of public funds,’’ she added.

ActionSA said it is deeply concerned by the revelations of this case, however adding that it was not surprised.

‘’ActionSA is deeply concerned by the revelations of this case, but certainly not surprised as the recent raid and subsequent arrest of Malusi Booi have exposed the long-rumoured ties between criminal syndicates and senior City of Cape Town officials. In stark focus is the fact that this scandal reveals how taxpayer funds have been siphoned off to enrich corrupt officials and gang leaders and finance their criminal enterprises,’’ said Adv. Julie Seton, ActionSA Western Cape Senator.

‘’ActionSA believes that this matter is just the tip of the iceberg, and as the country focuses on the pervasive issue of construction mafias, which feature prominently in the Booi case, this is just the beginning of a broader expose of the widespread corruption that has enabled these powerful construction mafias to wield their violent influence,’’ she added.

Most parties echoed that they have previously raised the alarm about alleged corruption within the City of Cape Town.

‘’The EFF Cape Metro has long exposed the DA as a racist party that harbors corrupt MMCs in its ranks, this while claiming to promote "clean government." We are once again vindicated, as the DA's true nature has been exposed, and an arrest has been made. We hope that all officials who served in human settlements under Booi's tenure will also be held accountable and apprehended for their direct or indirect involvement in corruption. The law must take its course, and Malusi Booi must account for every cent lost due to corruption in human settlements,’’ said Dambuza.

‘’ While it was encouraging to see the City taking swift steps, GOOD has remained concerned about the ongoing secrecy around the allegations and investigation when this case involves public funds. At the time, GOOD had requested the Mayor to provide clarity regarding this matter; however, very little was provided. Unless that investigation was selective, the Mayor must have been aware of information that implicated Booi long before the raid. The Mayor needs to explain why he waited so long to act,’’ said Little.

‘’ ActionSA has previously raised the alarm about the cancerous corruption and criminal underworld operating with near impunity in the Western Cape, the consequences of which have been severe, with individuals who are meant to protect the interests of citizens instead colluding with murderous gangs. While it is encouraging that the arrest has finally taken place, after a year and six months, ActionSA is alarmed that more than a year has elapsed since the initial raid, with no action having been taken against Mr Booi until now,’’ said Adv. Seton.

The National Coloured Congress says it will make an appointment with the Auditor-General about the municipality’s clean audit report.

Done By: Mitchum George