Patriotic Alliance councillor Marlon Daniels has insisted DA mayoral committee members John Best and Retief Odendaal go for lie detector tests to prove they are not lying, amid claims they promised to create job opportunities for the youth in the northern areas.
This comes after Nelson Mandela Bay mayor Athol Trollip spoke to the Weekend Post after Daniels said he was ready to walk away from the DA-led coalition which governs Nelson Mandela Bay.
Daniels claimed Best and Odendaal had said they would send 200 people from the northern areas to be trained as peace officers as money was available.
But Trollip refuted the claims along with Odendaal and Best, who both said they would not object to a lie detector test.
Daniels said he had insisted on the test as he had been portrayed as a liar by the two councillors.
“I have been portrayed as a liar by both [Best] and [Odendaal] denying that they ever offered job opportunities for our northern areas unemployed matriculants.
“I have told Athol [Trollip] to book a lie detector test for next week and those found guilty must bear the cost of the test. I shall not be discredited by them, making me out to be fabricating stories. I therefore insist on the test,” Daniels said.
The Weekend Post reported that Daniels was mulling over leaving the coalition again, but PA president Gayton Mckenzie had advised him against it.
Speaking from Russia, Daniels said: “I am back in the country on Thursday and I have requested a meeting with the mayor,
“I think it important for us to have lie detector tests because both [Odendaal and Best] are denying what I have said, making me seem like I am spreading lies.
“There must be a lie detector test so we can set the record straight.
“What I have said is the truth, why Athol is defending John and Retief is beyond me and I am not going to let him throw me under the bus by making the people believe that I have been spreading lies.
“I want John and Retief to come clean,” Daniels said.
Odendaal said he had received an invitation to meet Daniels and he had no objection to a lie detector test .
“I have spoken to councillor Daniels, who is currently abroad, and he has indicated that he would like to meet with me and John so we can try to resolve this impasse,” Odendaal said.
“From a budget and treasury perspective I am willing to address any concerns he may have.”
Best said he would not object to the lie detector test, but he would discuss the matter with Trollip.