Opposition parties urge DA to act against mayor accused of misconduct
Opposition parties urge the DA to provide findings of an independent investigation against Drakenstein mayor Conrad Poole.
Opposition parties have called on the DA to make public findings of an independent investigation against Drakenstein mayor Conrad Poole who is accused of misconduct.
This follows after allegations that members of the mayor’s executive have been paying him a monthly kickback came to light last year.
GOOD party Drakenstein councillor Keagen Gerste who first lodged a complaint with the municipality said the DA had failed to be transparent on the allegations against Poole.
ALSO READ: Job opportunities: Government departments that are now hiring
“Sources have revealed that Poole is facing allegations of a pay-for-jobs scheme. Members of his executive are reportedly paying a monthly kickback to the mayor himself,” he said.
Following Gerste’s complaint, the municipality had launched an investigation.
ANC Boland spokesperson, Monwabisi Rataza said findings of the investigation should be made public.
“These allegations, if proven true, are a clear violation of the trust that the residents of Drakenstein have placed in their elected office bearers. It is essential that those in positions of power and leadership uphold the highest standards of integrity and accountability.
We therefore call upon the DA leadership to take these allegations seriously and conduct a thorough investigation. The findings of this investigation should be made public to ensure transparency and build trust among the residents,” Rataza said.
ALSO READ: SASSA grant updates
Poole however slammed the allegations baseless and untrue.
“From the outset of these baseless allegations, I have pronounced my willingness to partake in any due process embarked on by either the Democratic Alliance or Drakenstein Municipality.
My willingness to partake in such processes stems from the fact that I am innocent of all allegations made against me. The proponents of the impugned allegations seek to tarnish my reputation and tenure as mayor by instigating a smear campaign against me presumably to gain a strategic political advantage of some sort,” he said.
The municipality said the matter will be discussed in council.