‘Vicious attack on me…’
Mayor challenges her detractors to provide proof that she is corrupt
MAYOR Patricia de Lille has hit back at her detractors labelling their attack as a vicious one on her integrity. “I want to remind the people of South Africa that under my leadership, the City of Cape Town received four consecutive clean audits – the only municipality in the country to have done so. I challenge those who seek to attack my track record to bring any proof that I benefited personally from any corruption or tenders,” she said.
De Lille’s statement yesterday preceded a meeting of the DA’s national federal executive committee today, set to deal with the issue.
Craig Kesson, chief resilience officer in De Lille’s office, accused her and the City manager Achmat Ebrahim of failing to act against Melissa Whitehead, Cape Town transport commissioner, for irregularities and wasteful expenditure in the management of contracts worth millions. He also claimed the City suffered losses of R43 million due to the wasteful expenditure. De Lille said her lawyers are preparing a comprehensive response to Kesson’s allegations. “I stand resolute in my commitment to serve the people of Cape Town,” she said.
Allegations of a corruption cover-up against De Lille and her fallout with JP Smith, mayoral committee member for safety, will be a hot potato at the two-day meeting to be held in Johannesburg.
Bonginkosi Madikizela, Western Cape DA leader, said that at the meeting recommendations will be made and steps are to be taken. Madikizela said the tensions and allegations against De Lille have created a negative situation in the party.
“No DA member can tell me that these issues have not damaged the party’s brand. These issues are very much self-inflicted, but remain allegations. We are going to investigate these claims and take the necessary steps to rectify whatever needs to be,” he said.
“We will be meeting this weekend to discuss this and other matters. At these meetings we will be making the necessary recommendations and steps will be taken. No one, not even Patricia, is above the law. The processes of the party will have to be followed,” he said. he said: “The issue of the governance of DA controlled municipalities is a standard agenda item.”
He added: “Without pre-empting the outcome of this investigation, it seems likely that some recommendations on inclusivity and team-building are likely to be made.”
Selfe said the City’s independent investigation is needed and the DA may, depending on the outcome, initiate a further investigation.
“To the extent that there may be brand damage, it is mitigated by the fact that the DA insisted that a fully independent and transparent investigation be conducted into the allegations, and will insist that, if the allegations are substantiated, appropriate action is taken,” he said.