/ 5 October 2001

MARAIS COULD BE BACK IN THE HOT SEAT ON MONDAY

THE Cape Town unicity’s rules committee is expected to make a finding on Friday on whether the city’s mayor, Peter Marais, breached any councillors’ code of conduct. Marais has been put on special leave pending the outcome of a probe into a street naming saga which backfired on him and deputy mayor Belinda Walker has been acting in his stead. He had proposed that two of the city centre’s main streets — Adderley and Wale — be named after former presidents Nelson Mandela and FW de Klerk. But, he dropped the idea after allegations surfaced that a poll among Capetonians on the issue had been rigged in favour of a ”yes” vote. The rules committee — chaired by the city’s Speaker Danny de la Cruz –started meeting at the civic centre at 9am on Friday. here is speculation that Marais’ name could be cleared and that he could be reinstated as soon as Monday. – Sapa