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Zille offers VIP protection
21/03/2006 19:40 - (SA)
Cape Town - Cape Town's new executive mayor Helen Zille said on Tuesday she would request VIP protection for councillors in the city's multi-party government who have been threatened or intimidated for not supporting the African National Council (ANC).
Her party, the Democratic Alliance (DA) said on Tuesday that she had asked the City Police chief, General Bongani Jonas, immediately to revert control of Cape Town's VIP Protection Unit to Council Support.
"Councillors facing intimidation will be afforded the VIP protection to which they are entitled under law. It is not clear why the unit was removed from Council Support by former mayor (Nomaindia) Mfeketo just days before the election."
She said it had come to her attention that certain councillors had been threatened and intimidated for their decision not to support the ANC.
"Intimidation, which amounts to political thuggery, is a serious threat to our democracy," read a DA statement.
Zille also said she had requested from the city manager a list of all current court cases in which the City of Cape Town was involved, as well as details about them.
"I have also instructed the city manager to immediately freeze any conversions of council contract posts to permanent positions pending an audit.
"We need to be sure that any posts that are made permanent are for valid reasons, not attempts to secure positions as rewards to ANC loyalists at taxpayers' expense."
Zille said that on Wednesday next week she would table the City of Cape Town's annual report during a sitting of the council to identify problem areas in need of urgent attention.
"This tabling is unfortunately long overdue."
Zille added that she would offer the media weekly briefings for the sake of public accountability.
- SAPA
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