Three Breede Valley councillors, including a mayoral committee member, are in hot water after being arrested for allegedly driving drunk.
Two DA councillors, Sammy Goedeman and Joseph January, and ANC councillor Hector Yabo were arrested in separate incidents between October and May on suspicion of being over the limit.
The three were released from custody and are set to appear in the Worcester Magistrate’s Court later this month.
Police spokesman Captain FC van Wyk said that all three were charged with driving under the influence of alcohol.
Goedeman is a councillor in Rawsonville and a mayoral committee member in the Breede Valley Municipality. January is a PR councillor in Touwsrivier and Yabo, who is number two on the ANC’s PR list for the Breede Valley district council, was the ANC’s local government elections co-ordinator in the Boland.
A witness said that January, who was alone in his metallic grey VW Polo and was without a driver’s licence when he was pulled over on March 20, was so inebriated that he denied he was behind the wheel.
A witness said Yabo tried to speed off before crashing his car when he was pulled over in Zwelethemba on May 28.
In an incident on October 2 Goedeman’s black Mercedes C180 left the road and landed up in an embankment. He was arrested at the scene.
Both the DA and the ANC on Wednesday condemned the incidents.
Local Government MEC Anton Bredell said his department and the DA would carefully monitor the court proceedings.
“This is very, very serious,” said Bredell. “The law must take its course. But as soon as the legal outcome is known, we will take the necessary steps. Public representatives, and especially councillors, need to act in a certain manner, according to their code of conduct. They should be role models.”
Bredell also urged the ANC to take strong action should Yabo be found guilty.
“The councillors are still in office, pending the court outcome and investigation,” he said. “But I want to make it clear that we do not condone this type of behaviour.”
ANC provincial secretary Songezo Mjongile said that Yabo was innocent until proven guilty. “Let’s allow the law to take its course.
“But we can never condone drunken driving. We will give Yabo the benefit of the doubt and wait for the court’s outcome before taking any steps. However, if there are grounds for him to be disciplined, we will take the necessary steps.”
Van Wyk said that Goedeman, 52, was involved in an accident at about 8pm on October 2. Five months later, January, 51, of Touwsrivier, was pulled over and arrested for the same charge.
“Goedeman’s vehicle left the road and (veered) into the vineyard (at) the Boontjiesrivier Farm, Rawsonville,” Van Wyk said. “The suspect was allegedly under the influence of alcohol. A case of ‘exceeds allowable alcohol contents in blood’ was opened. His first appearance was on March 15 and the case has been postponed to June 14. They are still waiting for results of the blood tests.”
Van Wyk said January was released on a notice to appear in court. His first appearance will be on July 8. Yabo’s first appearance was on May 31 and he is set to appear in court again before the end of the month.
Breede Valley municipal manager Allen Paulse said he was unaware of the arrests. He said that there was nothing the municipality could do about it until a fellow councillor or member of the public laid a formal complaint with the Speaker’s office.
“For now, the criminal process will continue, but the municipality can’t do anything about it,” Paulse said. “Someone will have to lodge a complaint with the Speaker.”
[email protected] - Cape Argus