ANC says DA and ID must come clean

The ANC in the Western Cape is shocked by the irregularities in the DA-ID controlled Swellendam municipality which was exposed today at a sitting of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) in the provincial legislature.

Two former municipal managers accused Mayor Jan Jansen of the ID of giving them illegal instructions to appoint people and companies aligned to the DA-ID coalition. Suspended manager Nico Nel testified that the municipality awarded a contract to manage its investments to Quandrix Asset Management because of the company's close links to the Independent Democrats and the ID mayor.

According to the evidence given at Scopa, ID Mayor Jansen, instructed the municipality to invest its reserves amounting to R20 million in the company, although an investment of only R3 million was approved by the municipal council. In the end R6 million was transferred to the company.

"DA leader Helen Zille and ID leader Patricia de Lille must now walk the talk to show that they are prepared to take action when their mayor and councillors are at the centre of alleged illegal action and maladministration which has plunged Swellendam municipality into a crisis.

"This circus has been going on for far too long whilst Zille and De Lille have ignored numerous appeals from the people of Swellendam for action. It is clear that Zille and De Lille are more interested in saving their unholy alliance, than looking after the needs and rights of Swellendam's citizens and ratepayers.

"The ANC also believes national government must further investigate Swellendam municipality and the covering up of the problem by the DA and ID," says Mr. Max Ozinsky, ANC representative on Scopa.

Statement issued by Max Ozinsky, MPL, ANC Western Cape, March 3 2011

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