DA's Bloom goes to court

2009-12-07 10:45

Johannesburg - The DA was expected to make an application in the South Gauteng High Court on Monday to set aside proceedings in the Gauteng legislature that saw a member suspended for five days.

"An application is being made today in the South Gauteng High Court to set aside and review the reports and proceedings in the Gauteng Legislature that led to the sanction against me for my corruption allegations against former Gauteng Health MEC Brian Hlongwa," DA MPL Jack Bloom said.

Bloom was suspended on November 17 for five days after he was found in contempt for refusing to apologise to the legislature and Hlongwa.

Bryanston house

This was after Bloom accused Hlongwa of corruption.

The allegations revolve around Hlongwa's purchase of a R7.2m house in Bryanston, using a representative, Richard Payne, who was also the managing director of 3P Consultants.

The consultancy had a R273m contract with the health department until it was cancelled, according to Bloom.

But the legislature found that while Hlongwa had not declared his property ownership to the legislature on time, the purchase of the house was not corrupt.

However, Bloom said he was taking the matter to court on principle.

"The DA is taking this matter to court in order to set aside an appalling precedent that restricts the free speech rights of a public representative in exposing possible corruption."

- SAPA