The Western Cape Democratic Alliance has closed ranks amid behind-the-scenes tension over the Cape Town unicity’s appointment of a bank official dismissed for his role in the provincial political funding scandal.
The man who hired sacked Absa corporate affairs manager Erik Marais — executive committee councillor David Erleigh — has limited himself to issuing statements through a PR company.
News of his appointment appeared to split the DA. Morkel said he saw no irregularities but warned Erleigh, a former member of the New National Party, that there would be questions, according to Die Burger.
DA provincial chairperson Theuns Botha called for action against the appointment. The party nationally described it as ”an error of judgement”.
However, national and provincial DA structures are now insisting council must resolve the matter. Enquiries to various council and DA representatives were referred back to Erleigh this week.
Marais was dismissed by Absa in July for contravening internal rules, exchange controls and bringing the company into disrepute. He was hired by Erleigh to conduct research by the start of August — six working days after the job was advertised.
At the Desai Commission Marais testified to receiving a call from then premier Gerald Morkel, now Cape Town mayor, to collect cash from the DA provincial offices, and to using his personal passport to exchange the deutschmarks in instalments at Absa branches, Rennies Travel offices and during an overseas holiday.
Subsequently Marais cooperated with the Scorpions’ investigation into fraud, corruption and money laundering and handed over the remaining foreign exchange he kept at his house.
Erleigh has repeatedly defended his appointment of Marais on grounds that he was innocent until proven guilty. When the matter was raised at Monday’s DA council caucus, Morkel is said to have barred further discussion.
Botha said council should resolve the matter. But he remains unhappy about the decision, saying: ”I don’t think it was the correct thing to do.”