Cape Town - The Democratic Alliance Speaker of the City of Cape Town on Tuesday said he had begun an investigation into the conduct of councillors who were allegedly involved at the weekend when ANC supporters tore down a billboard bearing the slogan Zuma Must Fall.
“Following City of Cape Town and media reports that have come to my attention, I will today begin my investigation into the conduct of councillors who allegedly formed part of the group who illegally removed the banner that was erected on a building in the Cape Town central business district,” Dirk Smit said.
This will involve watching footage of the event, and if necessary, calling witnesses.
“I will then decide if it should be referred to a disciplinary committee. If it is found that the councillors were in breach of the code of conduct that councillors must adhere to, they will appear before the committee,” Smit said.
He added that if it appeared that any city councillors broke the law, charges would be pressed with the police.
As tempers flared at the weekend, ANC MP Bongani Mkongi called on Facebook for the Overbeek apartment building on which the billboard went up to be set alight. He has since apologised and the ANC is not planning any sanction against him.
Smit recalled that the billboard was illegally put up on a vast signage space on the apartment building at the top of Long Street at the weekend. The city has given the matter over to prosecution authorities, saying the size of the structure exceeded that which was allowed for outdoor signs and the company in question - Independent Outdoor Media - had failed to seek the necessary approval from local authorities.
But the matter has turned into a political scrap between the ANC and the DA, which will later this year again hotly contest the city and the province in local government elections.
The ANC on Monday said those calling for Zuma’s removal from office were trying to create a regressive, racist society, while ANC chief whip Stone Sizani went further and accused the DA of being secretly complicit in the erection of the billboard.
He said the billboard was “sponsored by the privileged and wealthy racists of the DA” in a bid to divert attention from the racism in the opposition party’s ranks.
African News Agency
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