Cape Town - A DA councillor in the Western Cape who received a municipal transport allowance despite not having a valid driver's licence will be investigated, the party said on Friday.
“The Speaker of Eden Municipality will launch an investigation into the allegations against councillor (Tertius) Simmers,” Democratic Alliance Western Cape spokeswoman Liza Albrecht said in a statement.
“If Mr Simmers is found guilty, the DA in the Western Cape will take the necessary steps.”
The Times reported on Friday that it emerged that Simmers did not have a licence after he was arrested outside the council's offices in George for failing to produce a licence when stopped by traffic officers.
Albrecht said Simmers admitted to not having a valid driver's licence at the time.
“However, the travelling and subsistence policy for councillors in the Eden Municipality makes no mention of a valid driver’s licence as a prerequisite for a travel allowance,” she said.
Council speaker Doris Nayler told the newspaper the councillors - even those without a driver's licence - were getting a monthly transport allowance.
The African National Congress alleged that it was illegal for councillors to receive transport allowances when they did not have a valid driver's licence.
Simmers told The Times he was being targeted by people within the council's administration because he had “exposed corruption”, even within his own party. - Sapa