The South African Police Service (SAPS) carried out a search and seizure operation as part of an ongoing investigation into allegations of housing tender fraud worth millions of rands. As a result of this operation, Malusi Booi, the Mayco member for Human Settlements in Cape Town, has been suspended from his position. Geordin Hill-Lewis, the Mayor of Cape Town, suspended Booi immediately after the SAPS operation, due to his alleged involvement in the aforementioned fraudulent activities.
According to a police spokesperson, the SAPS Commercial Crimes Unit conducted the operation and confiscated various items such as documents, laptops, and cell phones. However, the police did not disclose the specifics of the seizure and investigation, citing that it is still in its early stages.
Following Booi’s suspension, Alderman James Vos has assumed the position of acting Mayco member for Human Settlements in response. Mayor Hill-Lewis has pledged the City’s complete support to the SAPS during the ongoing investigation and emphasized that the City upholds a zero-tolerance policy towards fraud and corruption. The City is committed to taking prompt action in the pursuit of good governance.
MEC Tertuis Simmers expressed his approval of the investigation into purported criminal activities involving state officials. Simmers emphasized that preventing and stopping such actions in the Western Cape remains a paramount objective of the administration. Despite the worrisome allegations, the administration remains resolute in its commitment to providing sufficient housing opportunities that bring back hope and dignity to all residents.
The recent raid on Booi’s office has been regarded as a positive step towards addressing the alleged fraud and corruption in the City’s housing department, and Suzette Little, a City of Cape Town councilor, has welcomed it. Nevertheless, Little has urged Mayor Hill-Lewis to provide transparency by revealing the details of the Commercial Crimes Unit’s investigation and when he became aware of the possible implication of his Mayco member. Little has also expressed concerns about the operations of the Human Settlements department, which have been raised by various opposition parties through council questions and debates and brought to the attention of the mayor on numerous occasions.