Open letter from Brett Herron, GOOD Secretary-General, to the Executive Mayor of Cape Town Dan Plato.

17 October 2019

Executive Mayor Ald Dan Plato
City of Cape Town By Email

Dear Mayor Plato

INFORMATION THAT CAPE TOWN IS PREPARING A SOFT LANDING FOR DA FEDERAL COUNCIL ROAD-KILL

It has been brought to GOOD’s attention that the DA is preparing to dismiss its CEO, Paul Boughey, in the nicest possible way, by creating a very comfortable, multi-million Rand position for him in the City of Cape Town.

A very senior figure in the DA informed me that CEO Boughey is on the chopping block following the party’s poor performance in the 2019 elections and that the DA Federal Executive have instructed you to create a position for Boughey in the City. I understand that a position is being created especially for him.

This position is potentially that of a Deputy City Manager, a position which does not exist, or a new position, which also doesn’t exist, in your Mayoral office.

Boughey was apparently requested to resign as DA CEO about a month ago but refused to do so, blaming the party’s election losses on its politicians, not its campaign.

I can think of no rational basis for appointing him to an unnecessary newly-created position, at an exorbitant salary.

Offering Boughey the softest of landings at City of Cape Town ratepayers’ expense would be highly unethical. The fact that Boughey’s girlfriend has already been appointed to manage the City Manager’s office raises further uncomfortable questions.

Regardless of which party they support, most residents of Cape Town will likely agree that the city should not bear the burden of the DA’s internal difficulties by picking up the tab for DA cadre deployment.

We hereby request that you publicly assure the people of Cape Town that there are no plans to deploy Boughey to the City as a solution to the DA’s internal mess.

We look forward to hearing from you urgently. 

Yours faithfully,

BRETT HERRON
Secretary-General
Member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament