Project Reclaim: Criminal charges pending against ANC leaders

Affidavits in the DA's possession reveal how the ANC is waging a coordinated bribery campaign to lure councillors in the Theewaterskloof municipality. This new evidence suggests that the size and scope of the ANC's ‘Project Reclaim' is bigger than originally thought.

‘Project Reclaim' was exposed late last year after a six-month DA-investigation uncovered ANC attempts to bribe DA councillors to defect and force by-elections in eight Western Cape local councils.

The paper trail leading up to last week's defection of former DA councillor in Theewaterskloof, Catharine Booysen-Nefdt, paints a picture of a desperate ANC that will do anything - including breaking the law - to gain a little bit of lost ground in the Western Cape.

Information detailed in affidavits by local councillors so far reveals how:

• The ANC tried to bribe at least four DA councillors to defect to the ANC

• Offers ranged from cash; leadership positions in the council and jobs in the municipality for councillors and their relatives

• Flights and accommodation for targeted councillors were paid for in an attempt to woo them into negotiations with top ANC leaders, including ANC Western Cape Chairperson, Marius Fransman

Prior to her defection, Ms Booysen-Nefdt was due to face an internal disciplinary hearing for willingly entering into negotiations with the ANC to defect to the party.

In her own affidavit compiled on 6 February at Caledon Police Station as part of the disciplinary proceedings, Ms Booysen-Nefdt discloses that her accommodation was paid for by the ANC at the Colosseum Protea Hotel in Cape Town on 3 February. She admitted that flights were arranged for herself and another councillor to meet Marius Fransman and others in Johannesburg the following day.

Ms Booysen-Nefdt's affidavit also details how bribes were offered to a fellow DA councillor at a meeting with local ANC leaders in Ms Booysen-Nefdt's home in Grabouw earlier in the day on 3 February.

The DA intends to lay further criminal charges relating to the ANC's ‘Project Reclaim' once all the evidence has been gathered.

The number one focus for the DA remains the delivery of opportunities for all the people of the Western Cape. We will defeat attempts to undermine this at every turn.

Statement issued by Theuns Botha, DA Western Cape Provinicial Leader, February 19 2012

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