Former Cape Town Mayor Gerald Morkel resigned this afternoon as provincial leader of the Democratic Alliance (DA) in the wake of the Desai Commission of Inquiry into his links with German fraud suspect Jurgen Harksen.
Morkel will, however, remain on as a DA city councillor and will also, at least for a while, remain on as a member of the Cape Town unicity’s executive committee. He said today he was not certain whether he would remain as caucus leader of the DA in the city council.
Morkel said he had been exonerated by the commission, although the commission said he had provided unsatisfactory testimony and had received hospitality from Harksen when he knew he was an unrehabilitated insolvent.
The former New National Party (NNP) Premier said he had wanted to retire from his leadership positions for some time.
”Because of the serious allegations made against me by Jurgen Harksen, it was not appropriate for me to resign earlier because this would have been interpreted by the DA’s political opponents as an admission of guilt… I always maintained my innocence and said that I would not go until this was proven.”
Party leader Tony Leon said: ”Gerald Morkel is able to resign today with his head held high: none of the many investigations into allegations made against him have produced any evidence that he was complicit in any illegal behaviour.”
Neither the commission nor an Ernst and Young audit — requested by the DA itself — produced any evidence that Morkel received any money at all from Harksen, said Leon. The commission itself failed to prove that he had received any monies personally from Harksen.
Leon said: ”Gerald’s decision is typical of his selflessness in placing party and service above position and status. Over the past year, Gerald Morkel has shown determination, bravery and an admirable refusal to buckle under extreme pressure from his enemies and their friends.”
The NNP left the DA last November and although Morkel initially backed the withdrawal, he later recanted and threw in his lot with the DA.
The commission was then called by his former chief political competitor, then Premier Peter Marais. Marais has since also resigned as Premier over sexual harassment allegations. – I-Net Bridge