Cape Town mayor asks for SAPS briefing after raid at MMC’s offices

Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has requested an urgent briefing from the South African Police Service (SAPS) following a raid at the offices of members of mayor committees (MMCs) JP Smith and Xanthea Limberg.

The raid occurred on Friday and is in connection with housing tender fraud in the metro, reportedly linked to cases former Democratic Alliance (DA) councillor and MMC for housing Malusi Booi was fired over.

HAWKS RAID CAPE TOWN MMC JP SMITH’S OFFICES

Western Cape police spokesperson Colonel Andre Traut said SAPS Provincial Commercial Crimes investigators descended on the municipality’s offices in Cape Town on Friday morning.

Traut said their presence is part of forensic investigations which emanate from a case that is running before courts.

“Several municipal officials and business owners are facing a myriad of charges that relate to the same investigation,” Traut said. 

Independent Online reported that Hill-Lewis said he notes the raid by authorities at the offices of Mayoral Committee members Aldermans JP Smith and Xanthea Limberg.

Hill-Lewis said the two informed him that they offered full cooperation to the SAPS but have not been made aware of the specific allegations at this stage.

“I’ve requested an urgent briefing from SAPS to understand the details of this matter and will determine the necessary further actions once this has been received,” Hill-Lewis said.

MALUSI BOOI GRANTED BAIL

In September 2024, the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court granted Booi bail of R250 000.

Booi and his nine co-accused including his ex-wife are accused of being involved in eight tenders amounting to R1 billion tenders that were unlawfully rewarded within the City of Cape Town’s Human Settlements directorate.

Initially, Booi was suspended on 16 March 2023 and was fired 23 March 2023 following a search and seizure operation by the South African Police Service (SAPS).

Just days after being granted bail of R250 000, fraud and corruption-accused Mitchells Plain construction boss Abdul Kader Davids, who was charged alongside Booi was gunned down.

Police said Davids was gunned down in a hail of bullets in Beacon Valley and preliminary reports suggested that unknown gunmen opened fire on the 42-year-old victim who was declared deceased by medical personnel who attended to the scene.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE SEARCH AND SEIZURE AT JP SMITH’S OFFICES?

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