JP Smith: Office raid part of ‘political hit squad’ smear campaign

JP Smith

Cape Town — The Cape Town MMC for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith, has responded to the raid on his municipal office with allegations of a politically motivated smear campaign.

The offices of  Smith and MMC for energy, Xanthea Limberg, were searched by police on Friday, as part of an investigation into alleged criminal activities within the construction sector.

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

He said that the raid was 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.

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“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 had been made yet and urged for space to allow the commercial crimes detective team to conduct its work.

In a Facebook statement, Smith claimed he was tipped off months ago about a conspiracy involving political actors, a private security company, and possibly SAPS members.

“Personally, I have always found it disingenuous when people who are the subject of police investigation, claim it is ‘politically motivated.’ There are many good people in SAPS and the NPA and DOJ who have great integrity and would not allow themselves to be abused for political purposes.
“That said, I have been tipped off that some political actors have been working on a smear campaign and have mobilised a political ‘hit-squad’ against me. I was alerted to this some months back, and some of you will have noticed from posts on social media that some politicians appear to be receiving ‘briefings’ or are involving themselves in what should clearly be, a protected police investigation,” Smith said.

He referenced recordings that suggest illegal behaviour, including planning meetings with national ministers discussing payments, which he believed aim to tarnish his reputation.

“Apart from these tell-tale warning signs, I have been reliably informed that senior ANC politicians have been briefed by members within SAPS. In addition, a concerned person has sent me recordings of conversations that, even just at face value, reveals a political conspiracy against me by political office bearers, a private security company, and possibly that of members within SAPS, yet undetermined at this stage if these are past employees or still serving within SAPS still today.
“One of the sources in these recordings indicated that they obtained them from members in the police who are concerned about evidence being manufactured and actions taken by some of persons featuring in the recordings. While some of these persons have already identified, and in what the source called a “frame-up,” an individual featuring on the recording described the reason for me being targeted simply because I “stood in the way of too much”.
“of the recordings are quite alarming and suggest illegal and deeply unethical behaviour by the persons involved and clearly outline the intention of “character assassination.” In this context, the search of my office appears to be an calculated element of the proposed attack, not to find something that should hopefully implicate me in any way, but simply because they know it will create an opening through which they can drip the slow poison of doubt over me, along with unsubstantiated allegations intended to be drawn over a long period, for maximum effect,” he said.

Smith accused certain SAPS members of enabling this campaign by leaking information for political gain and creating a ‘trial by media’.

Despite the allegations, Smith pledged full cooperation with investigations and emphasised his commitment to public safety.

He stated his determination to clear his name while continuing his work as DA chairperson in the Cape Town Metro, accusing his opponents of trying to paralyse his role ahead of the 2026 local elections.

Smith expressed confidence in the truth prevailing and vowed to persevere in his mission.

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Compiled by Matthew Petersen

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