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Brett Herron, ID Councillor and Spokesperson for the ID Caucus in the City of Cape Town, says the ID is ‘very pleased' that Western Cape MEC for Local Government, Anton Bredell, has acted ‘swiftly' to remove DA Councillor Charlotte Tabisher from office.

Councillor Tabisher, the DA Councillor for Athlone, was found guilty, by a Council Disciplinary Committee, on 8 charges of ‘misconduct' for promising members of the public state-subsidised housing in return for payment from them.

Councillor Tabisher was also found guilty on one charge of fraud, for preparing a grant-in-aid application for an organisation that no longer existed.

On 25 May 2010 Council resolved that Tabisher be fined R10 000 for all 8 charges of misconduct and be removed as councillor on the 9th charge, of fraud. Herron laid criminal charges of fraud and corruption against Tabisher at the Caledon Square Police Station on 27 May 2010.

The Council's recommendations were forwarded to the MEC for Local Government for final decision and according to news reports the MEC announced his decision to remove Cllr Tabisher from office with effect from Wednesday 23 June 2010.

‘We are very pleased that the MEC has acted swiftly in removing Cllr Tabisher. It is vitally important that we send a clear message that corrupt public representatives will be removed from office without hesitation. Voters are tired of politicians promising to clamp down on corruption, but then failing to act accordingly,' Mr Herron says.

'With the severe shortage of housing in Cape Town, where hundreds of thousands of people are waiting for a home, there is already much scepticism and suspicion with regards to the housing allocation process.

‘It is imperative that we do all that we can to assure those on the housing waiting list that the system can be trusted. The MEC's quick action on this matter will go a long way to reassure the public that we are serious about rooting out corruption' says Herron.

‘We have had confirmation from the Commercial Branch of the SAPS that they are investigating the criminal charges we laid against Cllr Tabisher and that criminal investigation must continue,' says Herron.