GOOD Statement by Chantelle Kyd,
GOOD George Councillor
08 October 2024
The GOOD party in George calls on Mayor Jackie Von Brandis to protect the young and vulnerable and suspend her Deputy, Raybin Figland pending a fresh investigation into allegations of inappropriate conduct.
It has been 10 days since our initial plea to Von Brandis to act against Figland has fallen on deaf ears. It has now come to GOOD’s attention that the DA’s own investigation found shocking prima facie evidence of serious misconduct.
An investigation by the Democratic Alliance’s Federal Legal Commission confirmed that Figland blackmailed a matriculant to provide nude photographs of a sexual nature. The Deputy Mayor threatened to expose the girl’s relationship with another boy to her parents if she did not comply.
The girl in question was traumatised by the events and eventually dropped out of school. After meeting with the girl, the Commission suggested the party ‘pay for counselling and psychological treatment to address the trauma resulting from her interaction with a senior Party official.’
Figland, who is married, originally lied to his own party about the relationship with the matriculant but when presented with the evidence was forced to admit to this and other relationships with young people. He justified his actions to the party saying they were all 18 years of age or older. Figland seems to have no appreciation that as an adult, in a position of power such as a deputy mayor, there is a clear power disparity. Not only is it inappropriate conduct for an official but it is exploitation.
The DA’s own investigation concluded that there is certainly prima facie evidence that Figland has ’committed an act of misconduct in terms of the Federal Constitution’ and ‘as a leader in the local executive government, Figland is expected to show uberrima fides in his conduct, the highest standard of good faith. Engaging
in extortionist behaviour, regardless of the age of the person involved, does
not meet this standard by any stretch of the imagination.
He lies without hesitation and shows no sign of any embarrassment when caught out in his
lies.’
The recommendations of the DA’s Glynnis Breytenbach, George Michalakis and Marius Victor go even one step further by suggesting the Party should consider possible transgression in terms of the Children’s Act 35 or Criminal Law Amendment Act 32 and that the matter be reported.
The incident took place in 2022 and was brought to the attention of the DA’s Western Cape Provincial Leader Tertuis Simmers in October 2023.
Despite the DA’s internal investigation concluding in February this year, the party has failed to act.
In August, Council accepted a report that found there was not enough evidence to proceed with a disciplinary process. However, it is now clear that the DA has access to all the required evidence.
GOOD believes we need a zero-tolerance approach. Extorting explicit images from schoolgirls is improper conduct and unbecoming of a public office bearer.
The DA-led municipality must effectively deal with their Deputy Mayor by removing him and suspending him while a thorough investigation is conducted.
Media Enquiries:
Chantelle Kyd, GOOD George Councillor
Cell: 063 9854627
Email: chantelle.kyd@gmail.com
Samantha Jackson, GOOD: Media Manager
Cell: 083 5509875
Email: samantha@forgood.org.za