Speaker debunks rumour of De Lille home upgrade

Security work at Cape Town mayor Patricia de Lille’s home is above board and in line with the provisions of national legislation, says council speaker Dirk Smit.

Responding to reports of alleged irregular upgrades to De Lille’s home “quoting faceless, nameless sources in the safety and security directorate’s internal investigations unit”, Smit said he would like to provide the facts.

The work done at the may- or’s residence related to security equipment installations undertaken by the city as per the prescribed legislative provisions announced by the minister of co-operative governance and traditional affairs.

“The work ... follows a security risk assessment and investigation into the safety of the mayor by a special unit within the South African Police Service,” Smit said.

A risk analysis report with findings and guidelines of security work required to be undertaken at the mayor’s residence was provided to him as speaker of the council, he said.

“The proper supply chain management processes were followed to procure the required safety equipment. The guidelines in the report by the special unit within the Saps were closely followed in the process of installing the security equipment,” he said.

“The details of the safety equipment cannot be disclosed as these measures are to ensure the mayor’s safety as prescribed in the findings of the Saps unit’s report.

“Finally, it must be emphasised that the safety upgrades undertaken by a supplier appointed by the city through the supply-chain management process only relate to safety equipment and not construction building work.”

The mayor paid for the latter, Smit said.