Zille acts on Rasool workers

2009-11-03 21:13

Cape Town - Western Cape Premier Helen Zille has "applied sanctions" against employees implicated in taking part in the unlawful Erasmus Commission that aimed to probe alleged irregularities in the City of Cape Town.

Zille, who was mayor of the city when the ANC's then premier Ebrahim Rasool set up the commission, said the province had reached a settlement agreement with one of the officials involved and applied sanctions to two others.

"The provincial administration has reached a settlement agreement with one of the officials involved, and applied sanctions to two others," Zille said.

"Two other officials have left the provincial administration before their roles were investigated."

The commission, which according to Zille had cost the province R6.2m, was set up by Rasool to probe the legality of the City of Cape Town's bribery investigation into renegade councillor Badih Chaaban.

It was declared illegal in September 2008 by the Western Cape High Court.

The judges said Rasool's motive had in fact been the "improper one" of seeking to embarrass his political opponents, in particular the Democratic Alliance, which led the city.

Rasool's actions in establishing it had been arbitrary and unlawful.
 

- SAPA