Plato welcomes ANC’s charges against him

MEC Dan Plato believes the charged laid by the ANC will result in a thorough investigation of the ruling party's alleged link to gangs.

Cape Town – The Western Cape MEC for Community Safety, Dan Plato, on Wednesday responded to the African National Congress (ANC) laying a criminal charge against him, saying he applauded the action by the party.

“I welcome the ANC Western Cape’s sudden interest in the rule of law, however misguided, through their actions today of opening up a docket for criminal investigation into me,” he said.

Plato was referring to ANC provincial executive member Rhoda Bazier opening a case at the Cape Town Central police station. Bazier said that the ANC were hoping the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) and the Public Prosecutor would thoroughly investigate the matter after laying charges of perjury, conspiracy to commit perjury, defamation, and defeating the ends of justice.

“The ANC’s blanket approach of requesting investigations from the police, Hawks, and Public Protector on ‘whether anyone should be prosecuted’, will ensure that any investigation must include the serious content of the information provided to me in affidavits,” said Plato.

“The affidavits allege corruption and criminal activity within SAPS as well as the ANC’s political links to gangs,” Plato said.

Here, Plato referred to the allegation made by an informer – detailed in an affidavit that was leaked to the media and a leak which Plato had publicly welcomed – that top Western Cape cop Major-General Jeremy Vearey was collaborating with gang members and that Vearey had received millions from convicted crime boss, Czech criminal Radovan Krejcír.

Vearey has vehemently denied these allegations and has stated he would welcome an independent investigation into the matter. Previously, in 2013, another informer, Pierre Mark Anthony Wyngaardt, implicated Vearey in an apparent expose on police involvement with gangs. These earlier allegations were found to be baseless.

However, Plato stated these most recent allegations needed to be taken seriously. “All the recent affidavits and the allegations contained in them are of a serious nature and the Hawks need to be allowed to investigate their contents, as the National Minister of Police has requested.”

“Through these legitimate investigative authorities, the truth regarding the content of information, allegations and affidavits handed to me will be determined and anyone responsible for any illegal activity will have to face the full might of the law,” he said.

Plato also responded to the ANC accusing him of having breached his oath of office, in particular his oath to protect and serve.

“My actions in office have always been above board, transparent, and in the best interest of the safety of communities in the Western Cape,” he said.

Instead, Plato said, he viewed the ANC’s statements as a “desperate attempt” to deflect attention from being named throughout the said affidavits.

“Frivolous and malicious witch-hunts, however, should not deflect from the genuine safety concerns of communities in the Western Cape who are battling with the scourge of gangs, drugs, and guns, seemingly being allowed to continue unabated,” he said.

Plato added that he would continue to pass any information he received to the relevant authorities, such as the police.

“This is due to my office having no operational authority over the police in the province, nor any investigative authority into criminal activity,” he said.

African News Agency