Alleged threat by councillor investigated

GEORGE NEWS - A senior member of the George municipal council, PBI leader Virgill Gericke, is being investigated for alleged breach of the Code of Conduct for Councillors.

The George Municipality has appointed BDP Attorneys to investigate the matter. Details are laid out in a letter dated last Friday, 29 July, that has been sent to Gericke.

Gericke confirmed that he has received the letter.

The letter states that a complaint was received from Councillor Johan du Toit after a special council meeting on 10 June alleging that Gericke had threatened him by saying that the gay community is looking for him. The PBI has come out in support of their leader and his remark.

George Herald understands that the remark was made during the meeting in an informal conversation between Gericke and Du Toit. It was known that Du Toit had complained on behalf of his party, the ACDP, about an advertisement that stated that the municipality was planning a gay parade in cooperation with SHE.

The ACDP and the VF Plus as coalition partners had allegedly not been consulted in the matter.

Du Toit told George Herald on Tuesday that he laid the complaint with the speaker after the remark. "I experienced it as a threat."

He said he hasn't had any feedback since laying the complaint and was not aware that the matter is being investigated.

Sunè Soonies, general secretary of the PBI, said in a statement that the party takes note of the charge against Gericke.

"The party is in full support of the remark that the gay community is looking for Clr Du Toit. We maintain that he has some explanation to do after he and his party objected to the George Municipality's involvement in the pride parade. The LGBTQI community has rights enshrined in our democratic constitution.

"Their rights must be protected, even when we may not agree in terms of our religious convictions," the statement read.

"Further to this, our councillors have the right to express views and articulate opinions on behalf of any community.

"This process is a witch-hunt on our leader and a clear tactic of intimidation and victimisation from the parties involved. The PBI will protect the right to free speech, privilege and indemnity in council of all our councillors."

Virgill Gericke of the PBI