The ANC has accused Cape Town Transport and Urban Development Authority commissioner Melissa Whitehead of corruption and nepotism.
ANC councillor Bheki Hadebe told the City’s portfolio committee on transport and urban development that the party had in its possession a dossier detailing evidence of alleged corruption and nepotism by Whitehead.
“I have this dossier that was given to us by internal City officials, about all the issues that are happening in the Transport and Urban Development Authority,” said Hadebe.
It is alleged that Whitehead appointed two of her friends, a married couple, to high positions in her department.
She allegedly holidayed with them for seven days overseas.
The wife is a portfolio manager and the husband a principal officer.
“The wife is earning R1.8 million per annum, the husband is earning over a million per annum. The person who is on the same level with the wife, a coloured lady... who has more experience and (is) more qualified is earning less than R1.5 million,” said Hadebe.
Whitehead is also accused of awarding a R326m tender to Chinese company BYD before it was advertised. The company was awarded the tender to procure electrical buses to the City.
Whitehead refuted allegations of nepotism, saying “all the process were followed”.
She said allegations of corruption were unfounded and she would not entertain them.