Johannesburg - Opposition parties in the City of Joburg have called for the suspension of Environment and Infrastructure Services MMC Michael Sun following allegations of animal poaching and reports that there was a warrant for his arrest in Taiwan.
An international news agency reported that a warrant of arrest had been issued for Sun in Taiwan for his involvement in the inflation of prices in relation to wildlife trade. It is understood that Sun facilitated numerous transactions involving wildlife trade.
The animals involved included giraffes and zebras. In some instances these animals would be used for meals such as soup.
The opposition bloc in the city council said it was horrified by the allegations.
Al-Jama-ah leader, Thapelo Amad, said Sun had been accused of a very sophisticated crime.
He called on mayor Mpho Phalatse to place Sun under suspension while law-enforcement carry out investigations.
“We strongly condemn poaching; it’s a serious crime in South Africa. This is criminality that affects the face of local government and across board as a nation, we as a party would like the mayor to introspect on her mayoral committee. We are calling for his suspension until he is exonerated,” he said.
Amad said the opposition bloc would not allow the matter to lie low because other officials had been suspended pending investigations.
“Sun says he took his leadership into confidence, he has to come clean and we will pursue the matter on the South African side,” Amad said.
ANC Greater Joburg, spokesperson Chris Vondo also called for Sun to step down from office until he is cleared of all charges. Vondo said matters of wild life trade and poaching were serious matter.
“He should do the responsible thing and step down from office, we cannot have an MMC who is compromised in this manner and we will be contacting the relevant law-enforcement agencies to probe this matter,” Vonda said.
Meanwhile, Sun denied knowledge of any warrant of arrest for him.
In a media statement, he said he had not been contacted by either South African law enforcement authorities or Taiwanese authorities.
It has been established that Sun has roots in both South Africa and Taiwan.
“I have not been contacted by the Taiwanese authorities abroad, the local Taipei liaison office in South Africa, the South African Police Service or the National Prosecuting Authority regarding any arrest. Neither have I seen any official documentation relating to the allegations as contained in the foreign media report or an arrest warrant issued against me,” Sun said.
Sun, who is also a qualified attorney, said he had taken his political party and the Multi-Party Coalition into his confidence on the matter.
The Star understands that Sun is a commercial attorney with over 20 years’ experience.
According to Sun’s office, he returned to his private practice in 2019 and from 2020 to 2021 acted as legal adviser to a foreign company wishing to purchase wildlife from Southern Africa destined for a zoo in Taiwan.
“If indeed there is an arrest warrant even though I have committed no crime I will gladly submit myself to any investigation or depose a statement relating to the allegations,” said Sun.
DA spokesperson Cilliers Brink said the DA could not comment on something that could simply be gossip.
The Star