The DA welcomes the spate of arrests by the Hawks that took place across Nelson Mandela Bay today, including that of former DA councillors, Neville Higgins, Trevor Louw and Victor Manyathi.
The arrests of these former councillors vindicate the DA’s decision to terminate the membership of these individuals in 2018, following their role in collapsing the DA-led coalition in Nelson Mandela Bay.
The DA also notes the arrest of Nelson Mandela Bay’s Acting city manager, Noxolo Nqwazi, ANC regional secretary, Luyolo Nqakula, as well as that of Nelson Mandela Bay housing official, Norman Mapu, and business people Xolani and Nwabisa Masela.
The arrests are reportedly in connection with fraud, money laundering and contravention of the Municipal Finance Management Act.
The Hawks have alleged that R400 000 from a corrupt contract with HT Pelatona Projects, was redirected to the ANC’s regional secretary, Nqakula, who in turn paid the funds over to the three former DA councillors.
Should this be confirmed in a court of law, it will confirm what the DA has suspected all along, which is that the ANC will stop at nothing to stay in power, including stealing money from the public purse, to pay bribes to swing votes in the council.
The DA stands for good governance and has a zero-tolerance policy for corruption and will be monitoring this case closely. The law must take its course.