De Lille ‘ally’ faces probe after shredding claims

AS THE DA caucus debated the fate of Cape Town mayor Patricia de Lille on Wednesday‚ allegations of “document shredding” reached city speaker Dirk Smit‚ sparking an investigation.

Complaints lodged against Cape Town mayoral committee’s member for area north, Suzette Little, alleged that she tried to lock staff out of her office while shredding documents.

Cape Town city council speaker Dirk Smit confirmed he had received two complaints but declined to discuss the investigation. “I can confirm I have two complaints from two people who report directly to councillor Suzette Little and I am busy with an investigation‚” said Smit.

Little said she had a paper shredder in her office‚ that documents were shredded daily and that the allegations appeared to be frivolous.

“We shred agendas every day. I’m sitting on about seven different committees‚” she said.

“My office deals with queries. I’m not near investigations. I deal with complaints‚” said Little.

She said she had not yet received a word of the complaints.

“You need to tell me which documents I’m shredding because both my staff are in my office so I can’t give you any comment in terms of the allegations‚” she said.

Little is perceived to be an ally of De Lille‚ who has claimed that various allegations against her by a faction of the DA were an attempt to get rid of her as mayor.