GOOD press statement by Brett Herron,
GOOD: Secretary-General & Member of Parliament
24 April 2022
Cape Town ratepayers are funding the legal defence of the controversial head of the City’s rogue SIU unit, Reynold Talmakkies, who is being prosecuted for fraud and corruption related to a City of Cape Town housing contract.
Ratepayers are also funding the legal defence of DA Councillor Nora Grose who is being prosecuted for money laundering and fraud relating to city Covid 19 food relief funds.
Talmakkies is additionally being prosecuted in Witbank for tampering with police dockets while employed by the SAPS, though it is not clear who is funding his defence in that matter.
Though it may not be illegal, it is unfathomable and unprincipled for an employer to fund the legal costs of employees accused of stealing from it. It compounds the loss the employer, and in this instance, ratepayers, have suffered.
The resolve to fund Talmakkies legal defence is revealed in the fine print of a report on the City of Cape Town’s Council agenda for next Thursday 28 April.
The fine print also confirms Talmkakkies’ position as the Head of the City of Cape Town’s Special Investigation Unit, exposing DA Mayoral Committee Member, JP Smith, as a liar.
Earlier this year, after GOOD raised questions about the lawfulness of the City of Cape Town’s SIU, Smith blatantly lied to SABC News, eNCAnews & NewZroomAfrika by denying that Talmakkies headed the unit.
The report, dated 22 March 2022, discloses the decision to fund Talmkakkies defence was taken by the City Manager using a deviated process.
It confirms that the City approved:_ “Authority to Appoint an Attorney. Urgent legal representation to the Head: Special Investigation Unit in a Criminal Matter Reynold Talmakkies Bellville Magistrate Court C650/21”._
The report discloses the appointment of a “senior attorney” at a rate of “R2000 per hour excluding VAT, plus disbursements”. The “disbursements” will no doubt include an advocate. The report indicates that the costs will exceed R200 000.
The City’s decision to cough up the legal costs raises fresh questions about the bona fides of the SIU he heads up. What exactly is it that this investigative and intelligence unit, set up outside the ambit of the Police Act, is up to in the City? Why are the DA and City of Cape Town defending Talmakkies? What is his bargaining chip?
The one missing piece of information is whether Cape Town ratepayers are also funding Talmakkies’ Witbank docket tampering case. Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis must take ratepayers into his confidence on this aspect. If the City is paying the Witbank costs, the Mayor must please explain why.
Organised crime is rife in Cape Town not least because it flourishes in environments of crooked police.
Ratepayers’ money must be spent improving the lives of ratepayers, not wasted defending those who steal it.
Media enquiries:
Brett Herron, GOOD: Secretary-General & Member of Parliament
Cell: 0825183264
Email: bretth@forgood.org.za
Samkelo Mgobozi, GOOD: Media Manager
Cell: 0792315977 (WhatsApp)/0829684021 (calls)
Email: samm@forgood.org.za