By: Sello Theletsane
The ANC caucus in the Theewaterskloof Municipality in the Western Cape has called for the resignation of a senior DA councillor accused of corruption and nepotism.
The call follows allegations that DA Constituency Chairperson Martie Koeglenberg instructed council officials during her tenure as a member of the mayoral committee (MAYCOM) to facilitate a lucrative lease agreement between the municipality and her husband Gert Koeglenberg on the eve of 2021 local government elections.
ANC Chief Whip in the Theewaterskloof Municipality councillor Raymond Nongxasa said in terms of the lease agreement, council land was given by the previous DA-led administration, at a nominal fee of R120 per year for a period of 9 years 11 months to Koeglenberg’s husband.
“The Democratic Alliance must explain why they are so desperate to cover up allegations of corruption and other wrongdoing against senior DA members and senior officials in Theewaterskloof Municipality using MEC Bredell office,” Nogxasa said.
He added that the serious allegations against Koeglenberg and other senior officials are aggravated by the DA leadership’s determination to dissolve the multi-party coalition to prevent a forensic investigation in the previous DA administration.
“The allegations against Koeglenberg and a number of senior officials in the municipality are weighty because they involve multi-million rand tenders and leases which have been paid for with taxpayers’ money. MEC Anton Bredell and senior councillors are aware of these allegations and are complicit because they assisted in sweeping them under the carpet,” Nongxasa said.
“It is no secret that Bredell has been waging war against ANC-run councils but he also has to answer serious questions about his role in this affair.”
“Whilst the DA has been telling South Africans that they stand for clean governance, it turns out they have been pulling the wool over our eyes for many years,” said Nongxaza.
He said ANC would open a criminal case with the SAPS and called on the police’s Organised Crime Unit and other law-enforcement agencies “to investigate this lucrative deal involving public land that was given by the previous DA-led administration, at a nominal fee of R120 per year for a period of 9 years 11 months”.
Nongxasa said the deal flouted all legislative prescripts. He accused Koegelenberg of “overstepping her powers and influencing the process in the Theewaterskloof Municipality to benefit her husband.
“The ANC will hold the DA to account for all these allegations and we hope that South Africans are finally seeing the DA for what it is: a party throwing stones from a glass house.”
