Cape Town - The community of ward 47 in Hanover Park have had enough of their ward councillor Antonio van der Rheede and have told speaker Felicity Purchase and the DA in the province that they want him gone.
Community members held a noisy picket at the entrance to the civic centre yesterday morning, demanding that Van der Rheede, who two weeks ago was charged in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court with the rape of a 27-year-old woman, be suspended from the council.
After the protesters refused to disperse until they had met with her and handed over their petition to her in person, Purchase eventually came down to the Civic Centre entrance and spoke briefly with them.
Handing over the petition of the community’s list of 19 grievances against their councillor, Moms Move for Justice founder Avril Andrews said all of the issues they raised including that of gender-based violence were “severe red flags” and the councillor should be suspended.
Andrews said the fact that an alleged rapist was still working in the community was an insult to the people of ward 47.
Hanover Park community activist Roberto Stemmet said the grievances and complaints had been documented and validated and were handed over to the speaker’s office 10 months ago. He said what was needed now was action.
Challenged by protesters to explain why the council had not taken a decision to suspend Van der Rheede, Purchase said it was because he had not yet been formally charged.
“It’s like every other legal matter in the country. I can’t give you an outcome. It is a process and we’ll wait for the outcome,” she said.
The protest came a day after it emerged that Purchase had handed over a report on an investigation into Van der Rheede to the council’s disciplinary committee.
It was compiled by an independent investigator the City appointed to look into eight allegations of breaching the City’s code of conduct for councillors that were made against Van der Rheede.
Among the allegations were that the councillor failed to convene official public meetings for the Hanover Park community.
Other complaints were that he failed or refused to meet with various registered organisations, community leaders and stakeholders and that he interfered with the election of members to the ward committee.
Responding to the protest, Van der Rheede said he was saddened by the recent allegations of rape and sexual assault, which he denies.
He cited sub judice and said as such it would not be appropriate to comment on the merits of the allegations relating to either the criminal and civil matters.
He said: “The judicial process must take its course and I believe that I will ultimately be vindicated. Despite the situation that I find myself in, I am totally committed to continue to serve the people of Hanover Park to the best of my abilities.”
He thanked those in the community who had supported him through ”this trying time”.
Meanwhile, in the matter of former water and sanitation Mayco member Dr Zahid Badroodien (DA), the speaker has requested the City’s legal services to appoint an independent initiator to leading evidence during the disciplinary hearing, which has been set for Wednesday, November 9.
Badroodien said he had acquired legal representation that would be defending him in the matter.