ANC says DA is delaying probe into provincial leader
the disciplinary hearing to be open to the media,” she added.
De Lille has been accused of maladministration and covering up corruption involving millions that the City lost in MyCiTi bus sales.
An internal DA investigation also found there are issues with De Lille’s leadership. Claims of nepotism have also been made against her. “I remain consistent and resolute that I have been wrongly accused of a number of serious charges. In the case of the Steenhuisen report I have already been found guilty without a proper hearing or without due process. I am seeking to have those findings reviewed and set aside in the Western Cape High Court,” De Lille said.
She had built up a strong reputation in and outside of the DA, she said. “These allegations and accusations have caused me great reputational damage and have damaged our party and our flagship government. Under these circumstances my focus must be to clear my name and to restore my reputation and that of the government I have led for the past 7 years.”
It is believed that law firm Bowman Gilfillan will release its report into corruption, maladministration and mismanagement at the City in mid-March. THE WESTERN Cape ANC has slammed the DA for the delaying an investigation into its provincial leader Bonginkosi Madikizela’s birthday party following months of delays and resignations in the provincial legislature’s conduct committee.
ANC chief whip Pierre Uys said the DA had systematically allowed the process to drag on without a chairperson.
“There has been no progress at all. The new registrar was appointed but we have had no meeting with him since his appointment in December. We see this as another ploy to protect Madikizela. The DA has failed to remove mayor Patricia de Lille. Removing De Lille would have made a space for him at the City, but that process backfired very badly on them,” he said.
Advocate Shawn Willemse was appointed by the provincial legislature in November last year following the resignation of Romeo Maasdorp in September. The chairperson of the legislature’s conduct committee, DA MPL Lennit Max, resigned suddenly in September. This followed the resignation of Maasdorp, whose job was advertised while he was still in the position.
The committee has been charged with probing a lavish birthday party thrown for Human Settlements MEC and acting DA provincial leader Madikizela and whether his acceptance of a R3 000 birthday cake, which he failed to declare, breached ethical guidelines.
Uys said the ANC, which was not part of the selection process, had written to Willemse and laid complaints but had not received any response, only a confirmation of receipt. “There was absolutely nothing we have heard of the new registrar. We had written asking him to investigate certain claims, but he has not been forthcoming. We have not even had a meeting with him on the issues we have raised with him since we wrote to him.
“There has been no communication, but this is no surprise. We knew the DA would put someone there that would let this slide under the radar. I, for one, am not surprised by their actions, but we are not going to leave this situation.
“We will take the necessary action when there is another meeting scheduled for later this month,” he said.
Mark Wiley, DA chief whip, said since Willemse was appointed, they could not have had any meetings.
“There was the issue with the drought, we had the Christmas break and the holidays. We simply did not have the time to discuss the matters and meeting (in a sitting with the new registrar).
“Later this month a new chairperson will be elected. We have already filled the vacancy on that committee. Mr Uys is very much aware of all these things,” Wiley said.