Cape Town - DA leader Mmusi Maimane has placed Cape Town mayor Patricia de Lille and her safety chief JP Smith on special leave from DA activities in the Cape Town Metro until the party concludes an investigation into the squabble between the two.
The party’s national spokesperson Phumzile van Damme said in a statement that in recent days, various allegations and counter allegations have been made in the Cape Town press involving De Lille and Smith.
BREAKING NEWS: DA has placed JP Smith and Patricia de Lille on special leave
— Cape Argus (@TheCapeArgus) October 3, 2017
“Maimane called both Mayor de Lille and cllr Smith to account for their actions at a meeting held last night. Following that meeting, Mr Maimane has placed Mayor de Lille and Cllr Smith on special leave from DA activities in the Cape Town Metro until such time as a DA Federal Executive investigation can be concluded,” Van Damme said.
De Lille yesterday morning briefed her lawyers about what she says is malicious and defamatory remarks made by Smith and some members of the internal Investigations Unit in the City’s safety and security directorate.
Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security; and Social Services JP Smith
The move by De Lille was widely welcomed as many said it was by time that she “tackled” cowboy Smith.
De Lille had in August clipped the wings of the city's Special Investigations Unit (SIU) by ordering that it be shut down.
This move had rattled Smith who in August wrote to, among others, DA leader Mmusi Maimane, in an attempt to find out why De Lille was trying to shut down the unit.
DA national spokesperson Phumzile van Damme
Smith said it could also be linked to rumours of alleged irregularities relating to building work at De Lille’s Pinelands home.
Van Damme however said some time ago, Maimane convened a special sub-committee of the DA’s Federal Executive in order to investigate the political management and governance situation in the City of Cape Town, and to report back to the full FedEx as to what further action is required.
This sub-committee will be chaired by John Steenhuisen MP, and is scheduled to begin its hearings on Tuesday.
The full DA statement
“Placing the mayor and Smith on special leave during the investigation means that neither will be able to attend DA caucus meetings, interact with caucus members or others who may testify before the committee or attend party meetings.
“This leave does not affect their candidacy for provincial elected positions, nor does it affect their work in government. They should also not address the media on this issue until the conclusion of the investigation,” she said.
Van Damme said the statements being made in the media on allegations from both the mayor and Smith are now a subject of investigation by both the panel mentioned above and the City itself.
Van Damme said the statements have been inaccurate and are prejudicial to the investigation.