Cape Town MMC JP Smith reacts to police raid: ‘A smear campaign’

Cape Town member of mayoral committee (MMC) of safety and security JP Smith says a political smear campaign is behind the raid at his offices.

The Police Commercial Crimes Unit raided Smith and another MMC Xanthea Limberg’s offices on Friday morning. The raid is reportedly linked to cases former Democratic Alliance (DA) councillor and MMC for housing Malusi Booi was fired over.

JP SMITH ‘SPEAKS OUT’ AFTER RAID AT OFFICES

Following the raid, Smith said he had been tipped off that some political actors had been working on a smear campaign and had mobilised a political ‘hit squad’ against him.

“I was alerted to this some months back, and some of you will have noticed from posts on social media that some politicians appear to be receiving ‘briefings’ or are involving themselves in what should clearly be a protected police investigation.

“Apart from these tell-tale warning signs, I have been reliably informed that members within SAPS have briefed senior ANC politicians,” he said. 

In addition, the DA chairperson in Western Cape said a concerned person him recordings of conversations that, even just at face value, revealed a political conspiracy against him by political office bearers, a private security company, and possibly that of members within SAPS, yet undetermined at this stage if these are past employees or still serving within SAPS today. 

“One of the sources in these recordings indicated that they obtained them from members of the police who are concerned about evidence being manufactured and actions taken by some persons featured in the recordings. 

“While some of these persons have already been identified, and in what the source called a ‘frame-up,’ an individual featured on the recording described the reason for me being targeted simply because I ‘stood in the way of too much’.”

MAYOR REQUESTS URGENT BRIEFING FROM SAPS

On Friday, Western Cape police spokesperson Andre Traut said several municipal officials and business owners are facing a myriad of charges that relate to the same investigation.  

Following the raid, Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis said he notes the raid by authorities at the offices of MMCs JP Smith and Xanthea Limberg.

Hill-Lewis said the two informed him that they offered full cooperation to the SAPS but have not been made aware of the specific allegations at this stage.

“I’ve requested an urgent briefing from SAPS to understand the details of this matter and will determine the necessary further actions once this has been received. In the earlier matter relating to Malusi Booi, I was offered and given a full briefing by SAPS, and have requested the same courtesy be extended to me in this matter as soon as possible,” Hill-Lewis said.

DO YOU THINK THERE IS A SMEAR CAMPAIGN AGAINST JP SMITH?

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