The Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) of the Democratic Alliance in KwaZulu-Natal met on 24 November 2024 to consider allegations made by News24 against eThekwini Councillor, Zoe Solomon in an article that appeared on Saturday, 23 November 2024 about providing a proof of address to a person applying for bail.
An investigation was immediately launched by the DA over the weekend to ascertain the facts and the PEC was presented the outcome of this investigation, which found:
1 – The address in question is in the ward under the jurisdiction of Councillor Solomon,
2 – Solomon was contacted by Detective Thompson who did not know that the address in question was in Solomon’s ward, despite the Councillor repeatedly telling them,
3 – It is not the job of a Councillor to verify residential addresses for bail applications. This is the responsibility of the SAPS which it seems did not do their job in this instance,
4 – The SAPS and NPA have attempted to shift the weight of their responsibility in bail verification processes to a local councillor, which is unheard of and deeply irregular, and
5 – There is no history or proof that the journalist had attempted to contact Solomon.
The PEC considered the matter and is of the view that:
1. Councillor Zoe Solomon acted in good faith, without any ill intent,
2. The system of Councillors issuing Proofs-of-Address is fundamentally flawed and places too much responsibility on a councillor who cannot be expected to physically verify the hundreds of requests that are taken to their office on a daily and weekly basis. No Councillor in the country does this,
2 – It is unreasonable that the SAPS and NPA effectively delegated their investigative duties in a bail application, relying on a Proof-of-Address from a Councillor rather than doing their own work,
3 – The actions of the detective in threatening the arrest of Solomon may be an abuse of power and should be referred to IPID, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate,
4 – The journalist and News24 be referred to the Press Ombudsman, for not reasonably allowing Solomon the right of reply, and
5 – The DA KwaZulu-Natal PEC stands fully behind and in support of Councillor Solomon.
It is clear that individuals within the SAPS and NPA failed to do their job and in an attempt to cover for their blunder, attempted to scapegoat Councillor Solomon when the facts became clear.
It is highly unfortunate that these individuals then found a willing participant within the media to accept and publish these claims.