Paul Swart, the DA mayor of the Cape Agulhas municipality, has dismissed misconduct claims made against him as nothing more than a witch hunt by opposition parties.
Swart said that his political party stands by him.
This follows a municipality disciplinary report that found Swart guilty of misconduct and breaching the councillor code of conduct.
The charges against him include failing to disclose business interests as outlined in Section 6 of the Code of Conduct for Councillors, as well as failing to disclose unauthorised expenditure.
The municipal council found Swart guilty on both charges on May 16 after a disciplinary procedure.
The MEC for local government, Anton Bredell, has since received the recommendations and will review them before making a final decision.
Bredell’s spokesperson, Wouter Kriel, said the MEC received the recommendations and would communicate his decision in due course.
Inherited bankrupt municipality from ANC
Speaking to Sunday World, Swart questioned the timing of the disciplinary process.
“I am in my second term as executive mayor of Cape Agulhas municipality. When I started my duties as mayor, I inherited an almost bankrupt municipality from the ANC,” Swart said.
“The ANC, in coalition with the Dienslewering Party, was in power in the municipality for almost 15 years.
“These allegations from the opposition have been going on for a long time. Why did they drag it out until now, before the election? I believe it’s a witch hunt and a clear smear campaign.”
Swart said he was not surprised by the outcome of the disciplinary report.
He explained: “I pleaded not guilty at the disciplinary hearing, but even with the facts on the table, they decided to recommend that I be removed from office.
There were only two opposition parties that formed part of the disciplinary committee. So, why would I be surprised by the outcome of the report?
“I am not a corrupt person; I’m a Christian. The only thing that worries me is the smear campaign against my name.”
Political witch hunt by opponents
Nicholas Myburgh, the DA constituency head for Cape Agulhas municipality, said that the disciplinary committee “ignored the facts and the law and manufactured wrongdoing in order to deliver a guilty verdict”.
“Mayor Paul Swart has been targeted in a political witch hunt construed and driven by his political opponents, costing taxpayers close to R500 000,” said Myburgh.
“We have full confidence in him; he has led the municipality with distinction.”
The ANC provincial leader of the opposition, Renier Louw, said in a joint statement with the Dienslewering Party that despite a pushback from the DA, they remain steadfast in their commitment to justice.
“While this decision may evoke mixed emotions, we urge our community to trust in the integrity of the process and remain united in our collective pursuit of a better future for all,” said Louw.
