It is very unfortunate that Cape Town mayor Helen Zille seems to have fallen into the very same trap of power abuse and misuse of state resources to advance petty party political missions.

It is very unfortunate that Cape Town mayor Helen Zille seems to have fallen into the very same trap of power abuse and misuse of state resources to advance petty party political missions.

Having been the most-watched mayor in the country, she should not have participated in the spying debacle. But it seems that as head of the DA and as political head of the Cape Metro, Zille gave the green light to other powers-that-be to proceed with surveillance work on persons or councillors suspected of defecting.

Zille cannot, in the light of this saga, investigate herself. Appointing an advocate to probe the allegations against her will not work because she will obviously be exonerated, and vindicated.

If she is found guilty of having participated in the spying debacle, Zille must resign. I know that the ruling party wants to see her political demise, but we cannot be seen to be protecting illegitimate and unlawful mechanisms and practises.

Badih Chaban must be punished for his political sins, so must the speaker and the mayor. The coalition will hopefully designate someone else to take the reigns.

The law must be upheld, otherwise all the party big guns must be held responsible for "converting our country into a banana republic" where justice is applied to some, while others are exempted.

Vela Ntuli,

Roodepoort