GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - Former Garden Route District Municipality Mayor and now DA Western Cape MPL, Memory Booysen, is under investigation by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), known as the Hawks.
Lieutenant-Colonel Siyabulela Vukubi, the Western Cape spokesperson for the Hawks, has confirmed the investigation. It relates to alleged transgressions by Booysen over "irregular remuneration approval and failure in oversight" while GRDM mayor.
"The matter is under investigation. No further comments," said Vukubi.
Questions were put to Vukubi following a media release on 21 June by Khalid Sayed, the ANC’s provincial spokesperson, calling on the DA to address the matter urgently.
"The ANC is troubled by the allegations of contraventions of the Municipal Finance Management Act and the GRDM dismissed these complaints.
"The dismissal has been contradicted by the findings of the Western Cape Local Government MEC, Anton Bredell, and ongoing investigations by the Hawks," said Sayed.
Sayed said the ANC would table the matter with the legislature's conduct committee, once it is formed.
Sayed alleges Booysen approved irregular remuneration for GRDM municipal manager Monde Stratu exceeding the Upper Limit Notices, including an alleged illegal gratuity of R4 241 375.
The alleged action "violates the standards for DA public representation as defined in the 5 July memorandum: Call for Applications: Mayoral Position - Garden Route District Municipality, endorsed by Federal Council Chairperson Helen Zille", according to Sayed.
Sayed also alleges failure in oversight by Booysen in that he is said to have failed to oversee illegal remuneration practices within the administration. Also that Booysen allegedly neglected to inform the DA caucus and the council of the notice.
Questions were put, via the DA’s provincial communications section, to both Booysen and DA Western Cape leader Tertius Simmers.
Simmers responded, “The allegations against Mr Booysen were subjected to various investigations that have not concluded yet, and therefore due process needs to be respected.”
There was no response from Booysen.
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