No Favouritism in Decisions

DA's Zille Says Cape Town Mayor Decides on Suspensions Based on Evidence

- Molefe Seeletsa

The DA has come to the defence of Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis over criticism of his handling of recent office raids involving senior officials. Hill-Lewis has been accused of responding differently to the raids on the offices of safety and security MMC JP Smith and energy MMC Xanthea Limberg compared to the raid involving former human settlements MMC Malusi Booi.

Authorities raided Smith and Limberg's offices on Friday, 23 January, seizing documents and cellphones. The raid is linked to allegations of tender fraud in the city of Cape Town's construction sector.

In March 2023, Booi's office was similarly raided by police. Following the raid, the former human settlements MMC was suspended and later dismissed. He subsequently resigned as a DA councillor and was arrested in September 2024.

Booi is facing charges of fraud, corruption, money laundering and racketeering in connection with three allegedly illegally awarded housing contracts valued at R1 billion.