There was uncertainty on Thursday on whether Western Cape premier Ebrahim Rasool had ordered a raid on the city of Cape Town’s procurement offices targeting tender documents related to his former transport MEC Mcebisi Skwatsha.
Superintendent Piet Viljoen, acting commander of the Serious and Violent Crimes Unit, told the South African Press Association news agency he had no comment to deliver.
”All I can say is that the raid was not done on Rasool’s request,” he said.
However, mayoral spokesperson Mandla Tyala maintained that Rasool had ordered the raid, which took place on Wednesday afternoon.
Tyala said a sworn statement to this effect was in possession of the city, with further assurances given at the scene to the city’s legal representative.
The mayor’s strategic legal adviser, Vincent Botto, referred all comment to Tyala.
On Wednesday, Tyala said the raid on the city’s procurement department related to documents on the awarding of a security tender within the city.
”The search warrant to enter the premises at 35 Wale Street and seize documentation relating to the tender was executed with the full co-operation of city officials.”
Tyala said the city’s rights and obligations with respect to any confidential commercial information contained in the tender proposals had been secured, as police had obtained a search warrant.
Rasool was not immediately available for comment. Rasool and Skwatsha have been at loggerheads in a bruising leadership battle, which led to Rasool being deposed as Western Cape provincial leader of the African National Congress.
Skwatsha’s name has been mentioned in connection with a multimillion-rand city security tender currently under review. – Sapa