DA finds councillor guilty

Committee rules Du Plessis brought party into disrepute

NELSON Mandela Bay DA councillor Nico du Plessis yesterday became the party’s third representative to be censured as the DA tackles alleged ill-discipline in its ranks ahead of the crucial municipal elections.

The DA’s Eastern Cape disciplinary committee found Du Plessis guilty of bringing the party into disrepute for improperly sourcing a ward discretionary fund available to all councillors to help their constituencies.

Du Plessis had previously denied any wrongdoing.

Yesterday, the disciplinary committee recommended to the provincial executive committee (PEC) that his membership be terminated – a sanction it asked be suspended for 18 months.

The Athol Trollip-led PEC is set to deliberate on whether to adopt the recommendation, lessen it or impose a harsher sanction when it meets later this month.

Du Plessis remains a councillor in the highly contested Helenvale.

DA provincial disciplinary committee chairman Kevin Mileham said yesterday Du Plessis had pleaded not guilty.

“A disciplinary panel considered the matter, and found [him] guilty of this offence,” he said.

“In terms of the DA’s federal and provincial constitutions, the sanction recommended by the panel has to be considered by the [PEC], who may lessen it, increase it, or leave it unchanged.”

Former councillor Knight Mali was axed last year for, among other charges, harming the image of the DA while councillor Chris Roberts was fined R10 000 and demoted from being party whip to an ordinary councillor for the same offence last month.

Suspended councillor Bahle Ngqondela, who is also accused of bringing the party into disrepute, will know his fate at the end of the month.

Political analyst Mcebisi Ndletyana said the DA should be commended for the sanction, as alleged corruption was diluting the party’s message of good governance.

Du Plessis referred questions to his lawyer, Craig Jessop.

Jessop said: “Until the [PEC] of the DA makes a final decision, we will reserve our comment.”

Should the DA PEC adopt the recommended sanction, and Du Plessis be found guilty of the same offence within 18 months, he will be booted out of the party.

Du Plessis was suspended in September after he was accused of fraudulently using money from the ward discretionary fund.

He earlier denied this, saying he had merely helped four struggling university students with money for taxi fare after they approached his office for assistance.

Yesterday Mileham said: “Councillor Du Plessis pleaded guilty to the charges relating to improperly sourcing funding for ward projects from the councillor’s discretionary fund by failing to follow proper procedure.

“[He] did not gain from this failure and the monies reached the intended recipients.”

Ndletyana described the sanction as an “encouraging message” from the DA and said the sanction was sufficient.

“He is unlikely to stand as a party candidate in the . . . elections. It may take a while before the party can trust him again to be a public representative.

“The DA has been proactive on this matter and as far as I know did not try to conceal it,” he said.