Local Government, Environ-mental Affairs and Development Planning
With regard to the procurement of two high-end remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS) devices by the City of Cape Town’s metropolitan police service:
(1) Whether these devices were purchased with the necessary authorisation; if not, how were they purchased; if so, what are the relevant details;
(2)(a) when did the officials start their training and (b) when will the training be completed;
(3) whether CPX 0012865-F1 Surveillance drone components – R150 000,00 tabled at the Subcouncil on 14 May 2018 was purchased in addition to the two drones mentioned in the Implementation Plan; if so, what are the relevant details;
(4) whether these devices have they been utilised in the City of Cape Town since being purchased; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
This question relates to the affairs of the City of Cape Town. The City of Cape Town maintains that parliamentary questions are intended to hold the executive accountable for their official decisions and actions and cannot be used to hold local government accountable for its decisions and actions.
The City of Cape Town further maintains that the Executive Mayor and City Manager are accountable to the City Council for the exercise of their duties, not to the Provincial Parliament.
There is no statutory provision that requires the City of Cape Town to provide information relating to answers to parliamentary questions.
Given the position taken by the City of Cape Town and confirmation of the correctness of the City’s views in a legal opinion that has been sought from senior counsel, which opinion I agree with, the above question cannot be replied to.
