Hill-Lewis calls for clarity after SAPS raids MMC offices in Cape Town

Cape Town – Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has called for an urgent briefing from SAPS following a raid by provincial commercial crimes investigators on the offices of MMCs JP Smith (safety and security) and Xanthea Limberg (energy).

“I note the raid by authorities at the offices of MMCs JP Smith and Xanthea Limberg, who have informed me they’ve offered full co-operation to the SAPS but have not been made aware of the allegations,” Hill-Lewis said.

So the offices of @XantheaLimberg & JP Smith were raided by @SAPoliceService Commercial Crimes Detectives today.@Our_DA @Bluewave4 care to explain? pic.twitter.com/gPp5OAJZWU

— Brett Herron 🇿🇦🍉 (@brettherron) January 24, 2025

“I’ve requested an urgent briefing from SAPS to understand the details of this matter and will determine further actions once this has been received.”

[BREAKING NEWS] The Police Commercial Crimes Unit has raided the offices of Cape Town MMC for Safety and Security, JP Smith, as part of a probe into housing tender fraud in the city’s construction sector. Police confirm no arrests yet, but investigations continue. pic.twitter.com/HHAq4u2IzZ

— SABC News (@SABCNews) January 24, 2025

According to The Citizen, Cape Town police spokesperson, Colonel Andrè Traut, confirmed that the SAPS raid on City of Cape Town offices was related to tender fraud in the construction sector.

He said that the raid is part of forensic investigations tied to a case already before the courts, involving several municipal officials and business owners facing multiple charges.

“Several municipal officials and business owners are facing a myriad of charges that relate to the same investigation.

“Whether the investigations the commercial crimes detective team is embarking upon now will lead to arrests, remains to be seen,” Traut said.

Traut said that no arrests have been made yet and urged for space to allow the commercial crimes detective team to conduct its work.