Dugmore seeks legal advice over Zille allegations
ANC MPL Cameron Dugmore has sought legal advice after questions about an ex-chief director in Premier Helen Zille’s department led to “despicable and baseless” allegations levelled against him.
Dugmore said he is consulting lawyers after Zille claimed that he is in contact with the ex-official, Solange Rosa, who resigned in 2015, and that he is disseminating certain “information” among the media.
Dugmore and Zille were locked in heated debate last week when Zille’s department’s annual report for the 2016/17 financial year was scrutinised.
Dugmore questioned Zille about the circumstances surrounding the resignation of Rosa, who was director for policy. Advocate Brent Gerber, director-general, confirmed that Rosa resigned minutes after a meeting at which Zille allegedly openly criticised her.
Gerber said Rosa was upset at the manner in which Zille spoke to her and stood up and slammed the door. In her resignation letter, she apparently said that it was unacceptable to be criticised so openly.
Zille said it was clear that the official and Dugmore had been in contact. She said the DA-led provincial government had taken an “approach” to which not everyone adjusted well and later this poor adjustment became subjective criticism. “I criticised this and it was taken personally, and it was not the first time,” Zille said.
Rosa was appointed in 2006 under the ANC administration. She was later promoted to chief directory for policy when the DA took over.