Kunene opens criminal case against three Joburg DA councillors

By: ANG Reporter

City of Joburg member of the mayoral committee (MMC) for Roads and Transport councillor Kenny Kunene on Thursday opened a criminal case at the Sandton Police Station against three DA councillors.

In a statement, Kunene accused his fellow councillors of publishing on their social media platforms personal information about him, including his private cellphone number and private email address.

While Kunene did not mention the trio by name in his statement, Africa News Global has reliably been informed that the councillors in question are Tim Truluck of Ward 117, Hoen Jacques Stephen of Ward 97 and Beverly Jakobs of Ward 98. None of the three councillors were available for a comment when contacted by Africa News Global. However, their responses will be published in our follow-up story once they are available.

Kunene said: “Opening a criminal case against my council colleagues is a decision I did not take lightly, as we, as councillors, should be focusing all our energies and time on ensuring that much needed services are rendered to residents of the City of Johannesburg, who we serve in the council and who expect nothing from us but service delivery.”

“However, it is the severity of their crime (violation of the POPI Act) that has left me with no option but to ask for the intervention of law enforcement agencies. My action against these three DA councillors follows their posting of my personal information, including my personal email address and cellphone number on social media platforms. This has not only severely compromised my personal safety but has also left me vulnerable to identity theft by fraudsters.”

Kunene said the theft and misuse of his personal information by the three DA councillors “is a blatant breach of the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), which sets out the minimum standards regarding accessing and processing of any personal information belonging to another”.

“I am appalled by the reckless and dangerous conduct of these three councillors, and I hope they will face the full might of the law so that incidents of this nature do not repeat themselves.”

Kunene said it was not the first-time councillors from the DA had leaked personal information of council officials. He said Executive Mayor, Kabelo Gwamanda and City Manager Floyd Brink were among the victims of the same conduct by DA councillors.

“If nobody steps up and take action, these bullies will never stop violating other people’s rights with impunity. It is about time these criminals, masquerading as leaders, face the music for their actions and are stopped dead in their tracks before innocent lives are lost as a result of their irresponsible actions. Enough is enough, Kunene said.