De Lille to answer to graft accusations
SPARKS are expected to fly at a city council meeting today as councillors will deliberate on the controversial Bowman’s report into corruption and upgrades to mayor Patricia de Lille’s private home while two councillors are expected to be disciplined.
Councillors are expected to deliberate the Bowman’s report behind closed doors.
Law firm Bowman Gilfillan’s report, compiled by lawyer Randall van Voore, into corruption and maladministration at the City of Cape Town recommends council to consider whether criminal charges should be pursued against De Lille, mayoral committee member for transport and urban development Brett Herron, suspended transport commissioner Melissa Whitehead and other officials.
The report into the suspected acts of corruption relating to a tender for electric buses by Chinese manufacturer BYD, De Lille preventing former city manager Achmat Ebrahim from reporting irregularities with a R40 million tender to procure bus chassis from Volvo.
The report recommended disciplinary action be taken against Herron and Whitehead for their alleged misconduct in the compromised tender process.
After a trip to China by city council officials, bankrolled by Chinese bus manufacturer BYD executives, the company received a R286m tender for electric buses that have been standing idle for months.
Eleven buses that were assembled in a R128m pilot project remained parked at a bus yard in Blackheath as they cannot be delivered until the investigation is completed.
De Lille and Ebrahim allegedly did not report the Volvo-matter to the city council.
Van Voore recommends councillors sanction De Lille for interfering with Ebrahim’s attempts to report the Volvo matter.
Another contentious matter before the city council is the disciplinary action against DA councillors Joy McCarthy and Phelisa Mzolisa.
McCarthy was accused of deliberately or negligently giving false information to sub-council 3 last year about the identity of an individual involved with a liquor licence application.