/ 30 November 2007

Commission of inquiry into Cape Town spy saga named

Head judge of the Judicial Inspectorate of Prisons Justice Nathan Erasmus will head the commission of inquiry into allegations of illegal surveillance by the City of Cape, Western Cape Premier Ebrahim Rasool and provincial minister for local government and housing Richard Dyantyi said on Friday.

Head judge of the Judicial Inspectorate of Prisons Justice Nathan Erasmus will head the commission of inquiry into allegations of illegal surveillance by the City of Cape, Western Cape Premier Ebrahim Rasool and provincial minister for local government and housing Richard Dyantyi said on Friday.

Rasool said Erasmus and four others — including a curator, an attorney and a local government expert — would conduct the commission.

”We have thus gathered some of the best people to constitute this commission,” said Rasool.

On Thursday, Rasool signed a proclamation to establish a judicial commission of inquiry into allegations of possible maladministration, corruption and fraud in the city.

”This step has become necessary, following the responses by the city manager to questions posed by Dyantyi. We have been alarmed by the responses because a prima facie case emerges from documents such as invoices, procurement statements [and] correspondence between the city, George Fivaz and Associates and others,” said Rasool.

He said that if this was true, denial of wrongdoing was not substantiated by the documents.

The members of the commission are Justice Nathan Erasmus, George Papadakis, curator of the Fidentia case, local government expert Herdie Vermeulen, attorney Zithulele Twala and advocate Frans Petersen, who will lead evidence for the commission.

The commission will probe the city’s conduct during its investigation into councillor Badih Chaaban, following claims the council had employed under-hand tactics when gathering evidence against the controversial councillor.

The inquiry will also establish whether the city paid for work done by George Fivaz and Associates or any other service provider relating to the matter before they were appointed by the city — and whether the payment was lawfully made and if policies of the council structures were transgressed.

Dyantyi said he was committed to good governance as well as better service delivery.

”As [provincial minister] responsible for local government and housing, I have consistently stated my commitment to good governance and better service delivery.

”Good governance is priceless. An investment in clean and transparent government will bear dividends of improved living standards and quality of life for all people,” he said.

The commission is expected to deliver its report to the Premier by January 31 next year. — Sapa