New evidence in CT spy saga
26/10/2007 21:34  - (SA)  

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Zille releases spy probe terms Zille denies CT 'spy scandal'

Johannesburg - New evidence in the Cape Town spy saga details secret meetings involving city-funded spies and wire-tapping, the SABC reported on Friday.

This was before the city council entered into a binding contract with the private investigators, George Fivaz and Associates.

The African National Congress called for the resignation of Democratic Alliance leader and Cape Town mayor Helen Zille on Thursday over claims that the city paid for a DA probe into suspected bribery by councillor Badhi Chaaban ahead of floor-crossing.

"The Democratic Alliance in the city of Cape Town has broken the law by using taxpayer's money to spy on their political opponents," ANC MP Randall van den Heever said in a statement.

"In a desperate attempt to hold on to power at any cost they have hired private investigators to monitor and tap private conversations."

Threats

However, Zille denied the claims and said the probe was ordered by council speaker Dirk Smit and commissioned by the city after councillors complained that they had been threatened by Chaaban.

Initially an African Muslim Party member, Chaaban formed the National People's Party during the recent floor-crossing period.

A subsequent council disciplinary hearing recommended his expulsion, finding him guilty of enticing councillors to resign from their parties "in exchange for gratification".

Zille has promised an "inquiry" to determine whether the probe was warranted, and the council's procurement policy correctly applied in hiring private investigators Fivaz and Associates to do the job.

Among others, the new documents showed payment for the tapping of cellphones, the SABC reported.

Council-supplied recordings

Fivaz, who is the country's former police chief, has denied making illegal recording and illegally taping conversations, claiming his company analysed and compiled a dossier on council-supplied recordings.

"The company has not been able to explain why it billed the City for work that was done before a contract was in place on June 1," the SABC reported.

It had also been unable to explain why it charged the city council for consultations with DA Federal Council chair James Selfe and DA Western Cape leader Theuns Botha.

- SAPA

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