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The Democratic Alliance (DA) was informed last week that the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has declined to prosecute former Hessequa mayor, Christopher Taute.

In response, I have written to Director of Public Prosecutions, Adv. R de Kock, to ask why Mr Taute will not be prosecuted for committing a serious ethical and legal offence.

In January last year, the DA revealed that Mr Taute had written to local Hessequa businesspeople on an official mayoral letterhead, asking them to donate money to the ANC in the run-up to the May 2011 local government election because their contracts were “made possible by this ANC-run council”.

Mr Taute’s conduct constitutes a breach of Section 4 of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act. This legislation prohibits the abuse of public office by officials for party political gain.

In July, the Public Protector found that the “conduct of the Mayor was unlawful, improper and an act of abuse of power.”

The former ANC Speaker of Hessequa established a committee, consisting only of ANC councillors, to investigate the allegations. This committee, not surprisingly, found Mr Taute innocent of any wrongdoing. The DA has since taken control of the Hessequa municipality, and the Western Cape Department of Local Government has liaised with the new Speaker of Hessequa on how the matter will be dealt with by the local council. Pending legal opinion, the DA is looking at constituting a new committee, represented by all relevant parties, to conduct a full and proper investigation.

Mr Taute sought to abuse his position as a public servant to coerce businesspeople into making donations to the ANC. Corruption in the public service undermines delivery, and steals resources from needy recipients.

The South African people need to be assured that corrupt public officials will be held responsible for their actions, and the NPA must provide a full and compelling explanation for the dropping of Mr Taute’s case.