STOP WITCH HUNTS ON DA COUNCILLORS

The DA calls on the Bitou Municipality to put an end to the witch hunts on local DA councillors in Bitou.

The ANC-led Bitou Municipal Council have spent close to R 1 million in legal fees trying to get rid of local DA councillor, Johann Brummer.  The Council prosecuted councillor Brummer for allegedly breaching the Councillors Code of Conduct.  The Council referred the case to the Minister of Local Government, Anton Bredell in 2009, asking him to dismiss Mr. Brummer.  After seeking legal opinion the Minister has refused the request of the Council.  The Minister stated the following reasons for the dismissal of the charges:

1.  The special committee that investigated the matter and made the recommendation to the council that Councillor Brummer be removed was not the committee appointed by council for this purpose, and accordingly acted ultra vires.

2. The special committee's proceedings were fatally flawed inasmuch as the prosecutor or presenter of evidence, Dr De Swardt, was a vitally interested party in one of the most serious charges against Councillor Brummer, represented one of the complainants in related matters, and could reasonably be considered biases against Councillor Brummer.

3.  The evidence led during the investigation of the special committee did not, on the requisite balance of probabilities, demonstrate the guilt of Councillor Brummer in respect of any of the charges preferred against him.

I ask that the ANC stop their witch hunts, and be held responsible for the almost R 1 million of the taxpayers' money of Bitou, they wasted in unsuccessfully persecuting Johann Brummer.

Statement issued by Theuns Botha, Western Cape Provincial Leader of the Democratic Alliance, May 21 2010

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