Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis announced on Wednesday evening that there is insufficient evidence to justify suspending JP Smith and Xanthea Limberg from the Cape Town Mayoral Committee.
This decision follows a meeting earlier in the day with the South African Police Service (SAPS) regarding the raid on their offices last Friday.
Hill-Lewis says during the meeting with SAPS Provincial Commissioner Lt. Gen. Thembisile Patekile and two of his officials, they were unable to provide any indication that substantive evidence of wrongdoing existed against Smith and Limberg.
“SAPS confirmed to me that the execution of a search warrant is in no way indicative of a crime, and I have not been provided with any substantive evidence of alleged wrongdoing by either of the Mayoral Committee members in question.”
Hill-Lewis confirmed that unless such substantive evidence is forthcoming, there is no basis to suspend either of them from the Mayoral Committee.
The mayor further stated that he sought and received a legal opinion from senior counsel, which affirmed that his decision was the correct course of action under the current circumstances.
Hill-Lewis also assured the public that should substantive evidence of wrongdoing emerge, he would take the necessary steps to uphold the integrity of the city’s government.
Additionally, he noted that the two Mayoral Committee members have fully cooperated, as confirmed by SAPS and the individuals involved. According to Hill-Lewis, Smith and Limberg have cooperated with the inquiry even before the search operation.
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The mayor further highlighted key differences between this case and that of former Human Settlements Mayoral Committee member Malusi Booi, whose matter has since proceeded to trial.
“In the Malusi Booi matter, SAPS provided me with insight into substantive evidence of alleged corruption and informed me of their intention to make an arrest. This enabled me to act based on credible and substantive evidence, which is currently absent in this case.”
Booi is facing charges that he accepted bribes from suspected 28s gang boss Ralph Stanfield and his wife Nicole Johnson, after helping them obtain housing tenders unlawfully.
ALSO READ: Accused in Booi and Stanfield tender fraud case shot dead
Booi, Stanfield, Johnson and at least 23 other suspects are expected to appear in court again on 31 January.
Meanwhile, according to News24 reports, the SAPS obtained the search warrants to raid Smith and Limberg’s offices, based on a claim that Stanfield’s alleged ”black book” contained entries that may or may not refer to Smith, as someone who would be able to speak to the Mayor about PRASA tenders.
Hill-Lewis told News24 that he was prepared to state under oath that Smith has never spoken to him about PRASA tenders, which “have nothing to do with the City of Cape Town”.