The United Democratic Movement (UDM) is threatening to take the DA’s appointment of former Absa Bank official Erik Marais to the Public Protector, unless it deals with the issue this week.
The UDM said in a statement on Sunday the leadership of the Democratic Alliance (DA), including party leader Tony Leon and provincial leader Gerald Morkel, should take political responsibility for the actions of senior party officials.
”The UDM is warning the DA to come clean on this totally unacceptable action and behaviour by Wednesday this week,” it said.
Erik Marais has been hired as the personal assistant to a DA member of Cape Town’s executive committee, David Erleigh.
Marais was fired by Absa last month after he admitted to processing foreign donations for the DA. He admitted to the Desai Commission that he used his own account as a conduit to pay Deutschmark 99 000 into the DA’s bank account.
His appointment is seen the latest development in the saga relating to claims that German fugitive Jurgen Harksen bankrolled the party and its provincial leader Gerald Morkel.
The Desai Commission resumes its work on Monday.
UDM representative Pieter van Pletzen said a number of questions needed to be answered regarding the matter, including whether the position was specifically created to accommodate Marais as a partisan reward, at the expense of taxpayers.
Others were whether it was true that Marais applied before the position was advertised, and whether Marais’ wife, a DA councillor, had any involvement in his appointment to the job.
”Why was a man appointed who admitted that he not only received the money, but also exchanged it for the DA? It is simply mind-boggling and utterly hypocritical that the DA can scream and shout when the ANC refuses to kick out (former Chief Whip) Tony Yengeni, but on its part appoints Marais,” it said.
Erleigh could not be contacted on Sunday but has previously defended the appointment, saying Marais had been an outstanding candidate for the position.
DA national representative Paul Pereira said this was a city council issue and not a matter for the national leadership, but reiterated that they considered the appointment an ”error in judgement”. – Sapa