Brett Herron, for mayco member for transport and development and ally of former mayor Patricia de Lille, resigned on November 1 after the city's speaker laid charges against him and De Lille for corruption.
In a statement in which he said the "DA abandoned freedom, fairness, opportunity and diversity" said the reason for his resignation was DA city council caucus blocked the disposal of the Salt River Market for an affordable inner-city housing development.
Herron was one of the hard working councillors but by no means without blemish. And by blemish I'm not referring to the corruption charges that I believe are without legal basis and form part of the DA's vindictive 'witch hunt'. I agree with him that hypocritically and conveniently, the DA is not pursuing other incompetent and corrupt members and officials.
Incidentally I've been wondering how Mmusi Maimane mismanaged this thing so badly but I realised it's his inexperience and being totally unfit for the role of party leader that his then boss, Zille, parachuted him into over qualified (black, brown and white) candidates. He’s probably been taking the wrong, tendentious advice from James Selfe et al.
Herron's fault, which the majority of politicians have but particular DA, is hubris. He thinks he knows things a priori and doesn't need to consult, basically what he told the High Court when residents applied for an interdict in the South Road MyCiti route case. This arrogance is behind the DA's, De Lille's and city's "red-carpet" approach to development that resulted in frequent conflict with residents and planning and environmental experts about inappropriate development around the city.
During his and De Lille's administration, planning approval became an executive rather than technical and planning professional function. Politicians rather than engineers and architects became the arbiter of decision-making, with the Municipal Planning Tribunal being a lap dog of executives and their agendas.
He and his boss were extraordinarily combative and personal with citizens who objected to dodgy developments, South Road and Maiden's Cove being examples. Herron/city lost the former in court and relented under court threats including from former justice Albie Sachs in the latter.
Herron failed to respond to queries and concerns I raised with him personally about an "illegal" (their word) development last year and one a few months ago that procedures were not been completely followed. In the latter he emailed me insisting they were, each and every time. But reportedly, the ward councillor was unaware of it, and his personal assistant acknowledged there were problems with the city sending public consultation notices. I asked Herron and Ian ‘Don’t ask me questions' Neilson to investigate but they never responded.
In a statement in which he said the "DA abandoned freedom, fairness, opportunity and diversity" said the reason for his resignation was DA city council caucus blocked the disposal of the Salt River Market for an affordable inner-city housing development.
Herron was one of the hard working councillors but by no means without blemish. And by blemish I'm not referring to the corruption charges that I believe are without legal basis and form part of the DA's vindictive 'witch hunt'. I agree with him that hypocritically and conveniently, the DA is not pursuing other incompetent and corrupt members and officials.
Incidentally I've been wondering how Mmusi Maimane mismanaged this thing so badly but I realised it's his inexperience and being totally unfit for the role of party leader that his then boss, Zille, parachuted him into over qualified (black, brown and white) candidates. He’s probably been taking the wrong, tendentious advice from James Selfe et al.
Herron's fault, which the majority of politicians have but particular DA, is hubris. He thinks he knows things a priori and doesn't need to consult, basically what he told the High Court when residents applied for an interdict in the South Road MyCiti route case. This arrogance is behind the DA's, De Lille's and city's "red-carpet" approach to development that resulted in frequent conflict with residents and planning and environmental experts about inappropriate development around the city.
During his and De Lille's administration, planning approval became an executive rather than technical and planning professional function. Politicians rather than engineers and architects became the arbiter of decision-making, with the Municipal Planning Tribunal being a lap dog of executives and their agendas.
He and his boss were extraordinarily combative and personal with citizens who objected to dodgy developments, South Road and Maiden's Cove being examples. Herron/city lost the former in court and relented under court threats including from former justice Albie Sachs in the latter.
Herron failed to respond to queries and concerns I raised with him personally about an "illegal" (their word) development last year and one a few months ago that procedures were not been completely followed. In the latter he emailed me insisting they were, each and every time. But reportedly, the ward councillor was unaware of it, and his personal assistant acknowledged there were problems with the city sending public consultation notices. I asked Herron and Ian ‘Don’t ask me questions' Neilson to investigate but they never responded.
The DA is not concerned about this kind of illegality, though.
I don’t know what the problem is with Salt River and don’t care. With the city’s development record, I doubt it’s as clear-cut and fault so easily apportioned as he says, though. I believe him that the DA city council is a morass of vipers, their conduct being insulting to the serpents.
But his resignation – according to him, it’s about Salt River – and his resignation statement is self-serving. He would have more credibility if he makes a sworn statement and produces evidence of the DA’s professional and ethical turpitude in the city.
I don’t know what the problem is with Salt River and don’t care. With the city’s development record, I doubt it’s as clear-cut and fault so easily apportioned as he says, though. I believe him that the DA city council is a morass of vipers, their conduct being insulting to the serpents.
But his resignation – according to him, it’s about Salt River – and his resignation statement is self-serving. He would have more credibility if he makes a sworn statement and produces evidence of the DA’s professional and ethical turpitude in the city.
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