The ‘Sheriff of Cape Town’s’ case against the police and courts

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He’s sometimes referred to as the “Sheriff of Cape Town”. A senior DA politician who’s occupied a top City post for 16 years. The City’s Safety and Security Mayoral Committee Member, JP Smith, is challenging the validity of a SAPS raid on his city council offices in January, claiming it was all meant to tarnish his political credibility. The raid follows a construction corruption trial implicating Smith’s ex-colleague and housing mayco member, Malusi Booi, and alleged gang boss Ralph Stanfield. News24’s Marvin Charles joins us in this edition of The Lead to help unravel the latest papers Smith has filed in court. “Smith is demanding that all electronics seized during the operation be returned. He’s basically challenging the validity of those warrants that were issued in January,” says Charles. Later in the show, host Graeme Raubenheimer discusses the PetroSA corruption case implicating an ex-FIFA official. And finally, Motown icon, Smokey Robinson, faces a multi-million rand rape lawsuit. Mail your comments and voice notes to thelead@24.com. Editions drop Monday through Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple and YouTube.  
7 May English South Africa News · Society & Culture

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