Zille orders Big Bay probe

2007-08-14 16:10

Cape Town - Mayor Helen Zille has ordered an investigation into allegations that a member of her mayoral committee is involved in a "conflict of interest" regarding a city property development.

"I have requested the office of the speaker of Cape Town to conduct a full investigation into allegations by the Independent Democrats and the African National Congress that the city's mayoral committee member for housing, councillor Dan Plato, has been involved in a conflict of interest regarding a development in Big Bay," she said on Tuesday.

The Big Bay development is taking place near Bloubergstrand.

The ANC in the Western Cape on Monday called for a full investigation into allegations that Plato, had "improperly interfered" in the development.

ANC provincial secretary Mcebisi Skwatsha said at the time: "Mayor Helen Zille has an opportunity to walk the DA talk. A full enquiry into allegations of corruption is warranted."

Zille said the speaker's office had asked city manager Achmat Ebrahim and mayoral committee member for economic development Simon Grindrod to provide any information that would help in the investigation.

"He [the speaker] will also check councillor Plato's register of interests to establish whether it is fully updated and whether Plato currently holds any personal stake in Big Bay developer Jonga Entabeni.

"I understand that councillor Dan Plato has himself also requested a full investigation by the speaker, in the spirit of openness and accountability to which we are committed," Zille said.

- SAPA