Councillor Zahid Badroodien. l BRENDAN MAGAAR/AFRICAN NEWS AGENCY (ANA)
Cape Town - Former Mayco member for water and sanitation Zahid Badroodien said he felt ashamed and embarrassed following the revelations that the electricity meter at his property was tampered with.
Badroodien stepped down from his MMC position, but remains an ordinary councillor for his ward until the disciplinary hearing is finalised.
Speaking to the Weekend Argus in Athlone yesterday, he said the issue was out of his control.
“I know people look at me, the position I hold and say many things. I am a little bit embarrassed and this is a difficult time for me, especially how this is impacting my parents.”
He said the matter came as a shock when he was informed by council Speaker Felicity Purchase in January. He went to his parents to seek an explanation as he only applied for the bond and was not aware of the meter box issue.
“When the officials came, I called my parents because they were the ones to answer the questions as they carried out the renovations and building. I only moved into the house after the 2021 local elections and the inspectors came immediately.”
He said his parents had already paid the contravention amount of over R15 000 and now he was waiting for the disciplinary hearing where he could formally be told how much he owes and what contravention he committed.
Badroodien didn’t want to entertain reports that there was a fallout within the DA caucus and that there was someone who wanted him out, saying their caucus leader Geordin Hill-Lewis worked hard to unite the caucus.
His department has a budget of around R2 billion.
He did, however, hint that if he had to fight someone from within the party he would gracefully exit politics.
Councillor Ian Nielson will chair the disciplinary committee and one of the names that appear as part of the panel is councillor Nora Grose who is currently out on R10 000 bail for charges of misappropriation of funds meant for Covid relief.
However, Grose said she would not be part of the panel. “My name should not be there, because I resigned,” she said.
Purchase added that the list was not updated which was why Grose’s name still appears. “Further note that (Grose) has voluntarily recused herself from the DC hearing (Badroodien) is set to face; nor has she presided over any DC hearings since the inception of council in November 2021.”