The DA to investigate council options in an effort to pursue a harsher outcome for Truman Prince

12 February 2016

The ANC's decision not to suspend Truman Prince once again proves that the ANC does not take blatant corruption seriously. The ANC will let Prince stay in the organisation and has only initiated light sanctions.

As a matter of urgency, the DA will investigate options that exist within the Beaufort West Council to find a proper avenue to discipline the mayor, as the ANC is inept at doing so.

Prince merely received a light punishment after having written a letter, requesting that construction tenders be given to businesses aligned with the ANC. Proof of this letter was published, yet all the ANC requests him to do now is to “withdraw the letter written to CETA.” Withdrawal of the letter does not erase the fact that he asked for tenders in the first place, or the other consistent acts of corruption in his office.

In any healthy democracy, a senior politician who is found guilty of such blatant corruption, would be, and should be summarily suspended.

It is becoming clear that Truman Prince is untouchable within the ANC. He lurches from scandal to scandal, from soliciting sex from under-aged women, to drunken driving, corruption and allegedly assaulting a police officer. Yet, time and time again he gets away with a mere slap on the wrist.

The DA, however, will not let this issue rest.

The residents of Beaufort West deserve better than a corrupt, controlling Mayor who constantly brings their town into disrepute. He does not need to own the town forever.

Issued by Bonginkosi Madikizela, DA Western Cape Deputy Leader, 12 February 2016