Zille names Mgoqi in 'plot'

2006-04-18 18:00

Cape Town - City manager Wallace Mgoqi has been accused by mayor Helen Zille of being "instrumental" in trying to bring down the Democratic Alliance-led multiparty municipality.

Zille said on Tuesday: "Dr Wallace Mgoqi was instrumental in assisting this attempt to bring down the elected council, proving yet again that his agenda is purely to destabilise the multiparty government and implement the ANC's plan to put themselves back in power."

She was reacting to Mgoqi's "illegal" declaring to the independent electoral commission of two vacancies in the council.

An allegedly fraudulent letter, sent to Mgoqi's office on Monday and signed in the name of "M Bedford", claimed that the executive committee of the Africa Muslim Party had expelled their leader, Dr Wasfie Hassiem, and one other for voting with the DA to oust the African National Congresss from governing the city.

Coalition holding 'firmly'

Hassiem and his party hold two seats of the city's executive committee, a quid pro quo for his party supporting Zille's mayoral nomination in a closely fought contest in the aftermath of the municipal elections.

Zille said: "This (the letter) will be the fourth time that the ANC and ID's attempt to bring down the multiparty government will fail," adding that the coalition was holding "very firmly".

Mgoqi is taking the city to court as he tries to hang on to the city manager's post, while the multiparty coalition has voted that his one-year contract extension be revoked.

Attempts to contact Hassiem were unsuccessful, his wife saying he had gone to the police about the letter.

- SAPA