Pubdate: Mon, 01 Oct 2007
Source: Cape Argus (South Africa)
Copyright: 2007 Cape Argus.
Contact:  http://capeargus.co.za/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2939

ZILLE SAYS SHE WILL NOT REVEAL HER SOURCES

Cape Town mayor Helen Zille says that she has more "worrying" 
information about "past police action" to back up her claim that 
agents provocateurs are trying to infiltrate the anti-drug 
organisation Padlac (People Against Drugs and Liquor Action Committee).

Zille said on Monday that a legal team was investigating the 
information she had received from sources in the intelligence 
services, which was now backed up by additional information.

She was responding to Western Cape premier Ebrahim Rasool's request 
to the Inspector-General of Intelligence to investigate Zille's claims.

Rasool said at the weekend that he had asked for the probe into 
Zille's claims that senior intelligence sources had informed her 
there was a plan to infiltrate Padlac and distribute guns in order to 
discredit her and the organisation.

Rasool also said he would institute an investigation to determine 
whether Zille had used city public money to support Padlac and that 
the police would continue to investigate Padlac's links to vigilante 
action and the anti-drug group Delta Force.

Rasool also said in his statement that he and Community Safety MEC 
Leonard Ramatlakane would no longer respond to Zille's statements and 
actions in the media.

"I believe it is time to bring to a close the unseemly exchanges 
through the media around DA leader Helen Zille's involvement with 
Padlac in Mitchells Plain," he said.

"I am requesting the Inspector-General of Intelligence to investigate 
the allegation that senior intelligence sources, apparently 'tired of 
being misused', have informed her that there is a plan to infiltrate 
Padlac with agents provocateurs and that they will distribute guns in 
order to discredit her and Padlac.

"These are extremely serious allegations and should be dealt with as seriously.

"I am sure that the Mayor of Cape Town will co-operate in my request 
to the Provincial Minister of Local Government and Housing, Richard 
Dyantyi, to assure the public that no public money in the city was 
used to support any activity of the DA leader and Padlac in Mitchells Plain.

"Minister Dyantyi will resolve this question as a matter of urgency."

Zille hit back on Monday, describing Rasool's statement as "unbelievable".

"Does he really think I am going to reveal my sources and subject 
those people to intimidation and harassment? Their information was 
supplemented by even more worrying information on the alleged past 
activities of the police, which I will be following up this week.

"I will make the details known later. I have been in discussions with 
a legal team.

"The premier's insinuation that council money was spent on Padlac is 
completely untrue and is just part of the smear campaign against the 
organisation," Zille said.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart