Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis. Ayanda Ndamane/ Independent Media
POLICE did not disclose the merits of their investigation during their meeting with mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis following a raid at the offices of two of his senior mayoral committee members, JP Smith and Xanthea Limberg, over a tender fraud case before the court.
The confirmation has raised questions on what exactly was discussed during the meeting that apparently convinced the mayor there was not enough evidence placed before him to suspend Smith, the safety and security mayco member and Limberg, the Energy mayco member.
Hill-Lewis has been under increasing pressure from opposition parties to suspend Smith and Limberg amid ongoing police investigations. The two were thrust into the spotlight when the Commercial Crimes unit of the provincial police swooped on their offices at the Civic Centre as part of a forensic investigation stemming from the tender fraud case.
Police spokesperson Andre Traut said: “The Mayor of Cape Town was briefed by SAPS as the Head of the Executive of the City of Cape Town and not as a member of a political party. The Mayor was not present when the search warrant was executed and he was informed of the purpose at the meeting which ensued afterwards.
“The merits of any criminal investigation are not disclosed or discussed with third parties and this policy was maintained during the meeting. Political parties can use the Standing Committee on Police as a platform to request a briefing should there be need.”
Opposition parties in the City council had then requested to meet with Western Cape Police Commissioner Thembisile Patekile to, among other things, express concern about Smith’s public statements which they said were tantamount to interference. The meeting was scheduled for today before the provincial police top brass cancelled.
In their statement, the parties said: “We are jointly concerned by statements made by JP Smith and Helen Zille of the DA, relating to the ongoing police investigation into tender fraud involving Smith and Xanthea Limberg. Smith, a member of the mayoral committee on safety and security in Cape Town, has claimed that the investigation is politically motivated and part of a plot against him. Both Smith and Zille have claimed that they were tipped off about the investigation last year. Mayor Hill-Lewis has also come out in defence of Smith and Limberg saying that he was not convinced by evidence presented by SAPS that the pair should be suspended. Their allegations raise serious questions about the integrity of the investigation and the possibility of political interference in the work of the SAPS.”
The ANC, GOOD, EFF, Freedom Front Plus and the Patriotic Alliance said they were disappointed by Patekile’s sudden turn on his initial agreement to meet with them as members of the Western Cape Provincial Legislature.
“We made it very clear that we do not wish to engage with SAPS on the merits of the case against Smith and Limberg, as well as the subsequent counter case against DA Federal Council chairperson Helen Zille but rather to unpack the DA narrative of an alleged political plot and the potential of a SAPS leak.
“We believe that sharing details of the case with any political party is against the principle of justice. Therefore, not only is this response from General Patekile extremely disappointing but it is confusing as SAPS had no issues briefing Cape Town Mayor, Geordin Hill-Lewis, a member of the DA on the actual details of the investigation. The allegations made by Smith and Zille raise serious questions about the integrity of the investigation and the possibility of political interference in the work of the SAPS. This meeting was vital to discuss allegations of this nature and reassure the residents of the Western Cape that SAPS is free from interference by any political party,” maintained the opposition parties.
In cancelling the meeting, Patekile informed the parties that he could no longer meet with them “due to the sensitivity of the investigation.”
“This office appreciates the concern shown by the opposition Political Parties in the Provincial Legislature regarding the above mentioned subject matter. The points identified in your letter are subject to investigation and cannot be discussed. The South African Police Service is committed to remain neutral in fulfilling the mandate as provided in section 205 of the Constitution of South Africa. After carefully considering the content including the counter criminal cases opened which will require the police to investigate independently, the South African Police Service will not meet the political parties regarding this matter due to the sensitivity of the investigation.”
Cape Times