‘I’ll resign if DA’s report is true’

‘I do not agree with influencing a process to benefit an individual’

A NON-EXECUTIVE member of the Cape Town Stadium board says she was not a beneficiary of alleged nepotism.

Limia Essop has threatened to resign if the DA’s probe into embattled Mayor Patricia de Lille finds otherwise.

Essop responded yesterday through her lawyers to allegations by the DA that her appointment as the non-executive member to the board was due to her relationship with De Lille.

She was appointed last year by the City’s municipal entity to manage the Cape Town Stadium precinct.

“I do not agree with influencing a process to benefit an individual to the detriment of others. Should the allegations prove that this is what happened, I will tender my resignation,” she said.

The report compiled by the party’s parliamentary chief whip, John Steenhuisen, MP Patricia Kopane, Gauteng leader John Moodey and councillor Karen Smith has opened a can of worms within the party.

The report also forms the basis of the DA leadership’s decision to discipline De Lille for misconduct. Essop refuted these claims and said she was appointed to the position because of her qualifications.

“I have an undergraduate degree in politics and public policy and administration from UCT, a postgraduate diploma in marketing and advertising from Red & Yellow School.

“I am completing my LLB through Unisa. I have strong marketing experience, as well as some events and finance experience,” she said.

The report said her appointment was because of her “so-called legal experience”, which was “farcical because at the time of the interviews Essop was still completing her legal qualification.”

Essop claimed that she had no knowledge of the mayor’s involvement in the appointment process.

“I believe I was appointed because I met the requirements they were looking for – young, dynamic, qualified, with relevant work experience that could assist the City in turning the stadium into a profit-generating business.

“I am one of two females on the board of six, and one of four ‘people of colour’. Yes, I am the youngest board member at age 31, but I am well qualified for the position and the requirements of the role.”

She said her reputation had been substantially damaged by the claims. In the report, she appeared to be the daughter of a close friend of the mayor.

The report also revealed that she was involved in a company that trades with the City.

Essop, however, said she was employed by her family property company, New Age, which worked with the City in 2009.

She said the work was done under the previous mayor and no work by the company was done for the City under De Lille.