Cape Town's new executive mayor, Helen Zille, said on Tuesday that she would ask for VIP protection for councillors in the city's ruling multiparty forum who had been threatened or intimidated for not supporting the African National Congress.
Her party, the Democratic Alliance, said on Wednesday that Zille had asked City Police chief Bongani Jonas to return immediately to council support control of Cape Town's VIP Protection Unit.
"Councillors facing intimidation will be afforded the VIP protection to which they are entitled under law.
"It is not clear why the unit was removed from council support by former mayor (Nomaindia) Mfeketo just days before the (local government) election."
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Zille said it had come to her attention that certain councillors had been threatened and intimidated for deciding not to support the ANC.
"Intimidation, which amounts to political thuggery, is a serious threat to our democracy," read a DA statement.
Zille also said she had asked the city manager for a list of all court cases in which the City of Cape Town was involved and their details.
"I have also instructed the city manager to freeze immediately, pending an audit, any conversions of council contract posts to permanent positions," Zille said.
"We need to be sure that (when) any posts are made permanent, (this is done) for valid reasons, not (an attempt) to secure positions as rewards for ANC loyalists at taxpayers' expense."
Zille said that during a sitting of the council next Wednesday, she would table the City of Cape Town's annual report to identify problem areas in need of urgent attention.
"This tabling is unfortunately long overdue."
Zille also said she would offer the media weekly briefings in the interests of public accountability. - Sapa
- This article was originally published on page 3 of Cape Times on March 22, 2006
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