Cape Town Mayor Declines to Suspend Aldermen Amid Ongoing Investigation
Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis stated that there is currently insufficient evidence to justify the removal of Alderman JP Smith and Alderman Xanthea Limberg from the Mayoral Committee. This conclusion followed a meeting with the South African Police Service (SAPS) on Wednesday afternoon.
Hill-Lewis requested a briefing from SAPS after a search warrant was executed at the offices of the two Mayoral Committee members on January 24, 2025. During his meeting with SAPS Provincial Commissioner Lt. Gen. Thembisile Patekile and two officials on January 29, he learned that they could not confirm any substantive evidence of wrongdoing.
He noted that SAPS clarified that the execution of the search warrant did not imply any criminal activity. Hill-Lewis emphasized that he had not received any substantial evidence of alleged misconduct by either Mayco member. He indicated that, without such evidence, there is no basis for suspending them from the committee. He also mentioned that he had sought a legal opinion from senior counsel, which supported his decision.
Hill-Lewis assured that both Aldermen Smith and Limberg are fully cooperating with SAPS in their inquiry, a fact confirmed by both the police and the Aldermen themselves.
Questions have arisen regarding Hill-Lewis’ handling of this case compared to the swift action taken against Malusi Booi, who was suspended the day after his office was raided. Hill-Lewis explained that the key difference lies in the fact that SAPS had provided credible evidence of alleged corruption in Booi's case, which is not present in the current situation.
The raids on the offices of Smith and Limberg were part of an investigation into tender fraud in the construction sector within the City of Cape Town, according to provincial police spokesperson Colonel Andrè Traut.
Hill-Lewis requested a briefing from SAPS after a search warrant was executed at the offices of the two Mayoral Committee members on January 24, 2025. During his meeting with SAPS Provincial Commissioner Lt. Gen. Thembisile Patekile and two officials on January 29, he learned that they could not confirm any substantive evidence of wrongdoing.
He noted that SAPS clarified that the execution of the search warrant did not imply any criminal activity. Hill-Lewis emphasized that he had not received any substantial evidence of alleged misconduct by either Mayco member. He indicated that, without such evidence, there is no basis for suspending them from the committee. He also mentioned that he had sought a legal opinion from senior counsel, which supported his decision.
Hill-Lewis assured that both Aldermen Smith and Limberg are fully cooperating with SAPS in their inquiry, a fact confirmed by both the police and the Aldermen themselves.
Questions have arisen regarding Hill-Lewis’ handling of this case compared to the swift action taken against Malusi Booi, who was suspended the day after his office was raided. Hill-Lewis explained that the key difference lies in the fact that SAPS had provided credible evidence of alleged corruption in Booi's case, which is not present in the current situation.
The raids on the offices of Smith and Limberg were part of an investigation into tender fraud in the construction sector within the City of Cape Town, according to provincial police spokesperson Colonel Andrè Traut.
