De Lille hits back at JP Smith
MAYOR Patricia de Lille has consulted her lawyers over reported remarks made by her mayoral committee member for safety, security and social services, JP Smith, and members of the City’s internal investigative unit, which she described as “malicious and defamatory”.
This follows a report last week in which Smith questioned the shutdown of the city’s special investigating unit, which was probing the murder of former DA councillor Xolile Gwangxu, who was shot after a meeting in Philippi in June.
The unit had also reportedly probed alleged “irregular upgrades” at De Lille’s private residence.
However, City Speaker Dirk Smit on Sunday shot down such assertions, saying that security upgrades at the house were above board, and that she had paid for nonsecurity renovations.
Smith had written to the DA’s federal council, questioning why the unit had been shut down and a probe was to start yesterday.
Yesterday, De Lille launched a scathing attack on Smith, saying: “We all know that crime fighting is the responsibility of the SAPS under national government.
JP Smith wants to play cowboys and crooks by releasing all kinds of
statements that the metro police is responsible for fighting crime.”
She said in terms of national legislation, the metro police department was tasked with the enforcement of by-laws and regulations, traffic laws and crime prevention.
Smith said the special investigations unit (SIU) was not created by him, but was as a result of the City’s integrated development and its annual police plan.
“When the ODTP (Organisational Development and Transformation Plan) did its review, it gave the SIU the nod, it wasn’t fiddled with and additional staff were signed off three months ago,” said Smith.
He said suggestions that the unit acted outside of its mandate were inaccurate.
Staffed by former members of the SAPS, and headed by former Western Cape top cop Robbie Roberts, Smith said the unit was meant to investigate drug cases and murders of council staff.
“The unit has delivered sterling results. They were doing their mandate 100%,” Smith said.
He said he disagreed with his own executive director for safety and security, Richard Bosman, who had justified shutting down the unit, saying the assertion would mean that all the City’s specialised units, like the copper theft unit, faced closure.
“I wasn’t getting joy in resolving the issue with the mayor, that’s why I wanted the (DA) leadership to intervene”It (SIU) was getting caught in the crossfire... I’m pained and very frustrated,” said Smith.
This weekend the DA elects a new provincial executive, with Smith expected to be nominated as a deputy chairperson, but he said his fallout with De Lille had nothing to do with the party’s internal politics.