STATEMENT - GRINDROD HAS KEPT HIS ELECTION SALARY DEDUCTION PROMISE
14-05-2007 This morning’s story in the Cape Times served to create confusion where there is none.
This morning’s story in the Cape
Times served to create confusion where there is none.
I wish to respond as
follows:
·
Following my promise to donate 10% of my
ordinary councillor’s salary towards the City’s housing budget, the
City administration requested that this be processed as a direct salary
deduction and not cheque payments;
·
The public can rest assured that this
deduction from my salary has been automatically processed every
month;
·
I have therefore kept my promise to the
citizens of Cape Town;
·
I will not be asking that action be taken
against the official who gave legs to the story by insinuating that I
had “made a few payments and then stopped”;
·
The administration has undertaken to
issue a corrective media statement clearing me of any allegation that I
failed to keep my election promise;
·
However, I do view this matter in a very
serious light, because it attacks the very heart of my integrity and
credibility; and
·
To the media I wish to say: “It is clear
that my outspoken views on several issues in the City have made me a
target. I ask that the media fraternity guard against this. All I am
asking is that professionalism not be overtaken by sensationalism. The
media must not become pawns of political masters intent on wielding
them for sinister purposes.”
Although this would seem like an
over-reaction, I re-iterate that this allegation goes to the heart of
my integrity as a politician.
The Cape Times reporter telephoned
me at noon yesterday (Sunday) and enquired about the status of my
commitment to the City.
I informed her that the City’s
payroll department had arranged that this contribution be made as a
direct deduction off my salary.
I told her further that payroll had
also said that a 10% deduction was difficult to action as the amount
would change every month.
I told her that between me and the
City we had agreed on a flat figure of R1000 a month.
As I was at the Travel Indaba in
Durban on Sunday I said I couldn’t fax her any documentation and that
she should call George Lubbe, the payroll manager for the City, to
confirm that the arrangement was in place.
I informed the reporter that it was
critical for her to verify the facts. I did this because an allegation
like this required all the facts be established before publication. The
so-called confusion could have easily been avoided if she had checked
with the correct official as I had asked her to.
For many years our people have been
the victims of empty promises from politicians. I refuse to be lumped
me with these politicians and I believe my reaction to any attempt to
do so is understandable.
I will be following up with the City
administration to ensure that my contributions to date are used to
subsidise one home for a beneficiary on our housing waiting
list.
I will contact the City’s payroll
department to adjust my contribution in line with my new Mayoral
Committee salary.
Ends
For further detail please
Contact Simon Grindrod: 076 782 5154
