Cape Town mayor Helen Zille has named a replacement advocate to conduct an official probe into the city’s spy affair.
The first person she chose for the job, advocate Geoff Budlender, withdrew over a possible conflict of interest.
Zille — also leader of the Democratic Alliance (DA) — has now asked advocate Josie Jordaan of the Cape Bar to lead the inquiry, she said on Friday.
Jordaan is expected to investigate claims that the city paid for a Democratic Alliance-commissioned private-eye investigation into councillor Badhi Chaaban.
Zille, who appointed the probe in terms of her mayoral powers, has also asked Jordaan to investigate whether councillors of parties in partnership with the DA in the city were subjected to surveillance.
The mayor has asked Jordaan to finish the investigation by December 31. The results will be made public. — Sapa