GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - Garden Route Mayor Memory Booysen informed Council this morning during a district council meeting that he is being investigated by a forensic team of the Western Cape Department of Local Government. Officials paid a visit to his office yesterday, Wednesday 26 June.

The focus of the investigation is his trip to Indonesia last year September. Booysen said he also had to report on why the Calitzdorp Spa and De Hoek resorts are the focus of attention. ''I had to submit all evidence and procedures to officials  (about the trip),'' said Booysen.

Booysen said he wants to inform Council fully because he does not want to read in the papers that they did not know.

In what was Booysen's longest speech since he took the mayoral seat in 2016, he gave councillors an overview of his background, studies, experience and leadership, referring also to his time as mayor of Bitou. Booysen said he has extensive knowledge and experience of the hotel industry, which was his line of study. 

He said he wanted Council to know more about himself and his management style, since this is what is being investigated. He explored the reasons and findings of his trip to Indonesia and, referring to the 50-year lease drama relating to the resorts, said he shares his vision and will keep informing people as he see fit. ''My pronouncements are not Council resolutions,'' said Booysen.

PBI leader Virgill Gericke said he will never stand in the way of development, but asked the mayor to make sure the process is right and that the community is being properly consulted. 

Ivan Mangaliso of the ANC said Booysen has not completely taken Council in his confidence. He said it seems that Council is being soft-soaped for an item that will come. 

ANC's Doris Xego said: ''We are the opposition and as touching as your speech was, we will not shy away from the truth.''

'We bring you the latest Garden Route news'