By: ANG Reporter
The Patriotic Alliance has threatened to take legal action against the DA for spreading lies about PA senior member Charles Cilliers.
In a statement on Sunday, the PA labelled the DA’s targeting of Cilliers “a desperate attempt at relevance”.
In a statement on Sunday, the DA alleged that Cilliers was illegally put into a job in the City of Johannesburg’s administration.
“They incorrectly allege that he simultaneously occupies the position of board chair at the Johannesburg Roads Agency. Had they bothered to do any fact-checking, they would have known that he resigned as the JRA chair in May prior to accepting a role as the Director: Executive Support in the office of the MMC for Human Settlements in Johannesburg.”
The PA explained that Cilliers’ role in the City of Johannesburg is in a political office. “He was appointed into exactly the same role for the MMC of health and social development in the same city in a coalition with the DA when the DA’s mayor Mpho Phalatse was in charge. Her chief of staff, Mike Moriarty, signed off on Mr Cilliers’ appointment at that time, knowing precisely who he is and what his background is.”
“Mr Moriarty was himself a senior DA leader who had been deployed into a political role as the chief of staff after serving various roles in the DA, including in the legislature. During that time, Mr Cilliers had played a central role in negotiating the very same coalition with the DA. He has never been the PA’s chairperson, but carries the title of Head of Strategy and Negotiations in the party.”
The PA said Cilliers is not a member of the party’s Top 6, “though serves on the PA’s extended national executive committee”.
“None of this is a secret, and none of this is sinister. Mr. Cilliers is a highly qualified and experienced manager, with five degrees, two of them at master’s level, one being a Master of Arts, the other an MBA.”
The PA said Cilliers was considering his legal options, including laying a charge of crimen injuria at the SA Police Service against the DA and the leaders who sanctioned “this defamatory press release”.
“He may also pursue a possible civil charge of defamation. Mr Cilliers has stolen from no one and committed no act of corruption and if indeed a public protector case has been opened, he simply asks that a quick investigation be done and concluded.”
