The City of Cape Town’s Human Settlements Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) Malusi Booi has been suspended with immediate effect.
The suspension followed a police search and seizure operation at the city offices, including Booi’s on Wednesday.
Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis placed Booi on suspension from Mayco with immediate effect from Thursday. IOL cites Hill-Lewis as saying:
The SAPS informed me this morning that the investigation is at an early stage, but is potentially serious and relates to alleged fraud and corruption, and that further details cannot be disclosed at this time.
As a result, I have suspended councillor Booi from his position on the Mayoral committee. In the interim, I have appointed Alderman James Vos as acting Mayco member for Human Settlements.
I have further assured the SAPS of the City’s full support in the ongoing investigation. The City has a zero tolerance approach to fraud and corruption and will not hesitate to act in the interests of good governance.
Booi’s suspension comes after an operation led by the SAPS Commercial Crimes Unit amid ongoing investigations into allegations of fraud worth millions of rands regarding housing tenders.
Police spokesperson, Colonel Andrè Traut confirmed the raid at the City offices to the Weekend Argus and said it was part of an investigation into fraud and corruption.
Documents, laptops and cell phones were believed to be among the items that were seized.
Infrastructure MEC Tertuis Simmers added he welcomed the investigation into alleged criminal activities involving state officials.
GOOD City of Cape Town councillor Suzette Little said Booi’s office raid was a welcome sign real progress was being made against alleged ongoing fraud and corruption in the City’s housing department.
Little added that mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis needs to come clean on what exactly the Commercial Crimes Unit is investigating and when he became aware that his Mayco member may be implicated.
The city’s mayco member of economic growth, Alderman James Vos has been appointed as the interim human settlements MMC.