No basis to show Smith and Limberg the door, reiterates Hill-Lewis
Following a raid at the two Mayco Members' offices last week, Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis said police could not provide substantive evidence of wrongdoing.
Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis talks on Kfm 94.5 | 13 July 2023 | Photographed by Ruth Smith
CAPE TOWN - Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has reiterated that there's no basis on which to show mayoral committee members, JP Smith and Xanthea Limberg, the door.
Hill-Lewis was briefed by police on Tuesday, following a raid at the Mayco Members' offices last Friday.
The mayor said police could not provide substantive evidence of wrongdoing, and confirmed that the execution of a search warrant was not indicative of a crime.
Hill-Lewis said a legal opinion affirms his view that there's insufficient evidence to justify Smith and Limberg's removal.
"I really appreciate their willingness to brief me. I am not entitled to such a briefing and I know that. But they did offer it to me as a courtesy previously in March of 2023 when they did the search warrants on the offices of Malusi Booi. I asked for it again and I received it yesterday," he said noting "a difference between the two".
Last week's raid concerns a tender fraud case in the construction sector before the courts involving former Human Settlements Mayco member Malusi Booi.
Hill-Lewis said in this case, he was taken through a series of shocking evidence that he had seen for the first time, which police had already corroborated.
"I must say the SAPS [South African Police Service] is unwilling or unable to share it with me. They did not share any such corroborating evidence with me."