De Lille axes city's security boss
The man whose name is synonymous with Cape Town's tough approach to safety and security is to be sidelined in a top-level restructure by mayor Patricia de Lille. JP Smith is the biggest loser in a reshuffle concentrating power among three De Lille loyalists. DA councillors said Smith was close to tears.He has held the safety and security portfolio since 2009.Now he is said to be looking at options, such as consulting for the DA in metros where it is new to power, such as Johannesburg, Tshwane and Nelson Mandela Bay.Smith said: "As a loyal member of the party, I will work wherever I am placed."I will be very sad to leave safety and security because I have devoted the past 15 years of my life to it, but as a Mayco member you don't own a directorate."Sources said De Lille was using the restructure, announced in her inaugural speech after the DA won a two-thirds majority in August, to settle scores with her critics.De Lille's plan - from January 1 - involves sending Smith and three others to four new "area committees".A councillor sympathetic to Smith said: "JP sees this as a demotion for him. He is not in the inner circle."De Lille was sidelining Smith as he took on Mayco member Brett Herron for the post of deputy caucus leader and won."He has been the only person who has challenged her decisions, " he said.Another DA leader said some councillors asked Smith to challenge chief whip Shaun August for the post of Cape metro DA leader. August is a De Lille fan, having backed her at last year's DA congress where she beat Lennit Max for the post of provincial leader.De Lille's spokesman Pierrine Leukes said the mayor would not respond to claims by "faceless, nameless people"."As of January 1 2017 all mayoral committee members will receive new portfolios to accommodate the new directorates in terms of the organisational development and transformation plan."Deputy mayor Ian Neilson's job will not be affected by the restructuring, which will introduce three "super" mayoral committee members, supported by another three with "cost-saving" portfolios...
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