Willie Spies strikes back: I lived in Pretoria for 50 years, fought against name changes, and prevented unfair taxes

Willie Spies, the Freedom Front Plus mayoral candidate for the Tshwane Metro, has responded to an attack by the DA’s Grandi Theunissen.

Theunissen was the former FF+ Caucus Leader in the City of Tshwane and former Regional Chairperson for Tshwane for the FF+.

However, after Spies was nominated as the VF Plus’s mayoral candidate for the Tshwane Metro, things went south.

“It was a slap in my face. I was the Freedom Front Plus’ regional chairperson and caucus leader in Tshwane, and I put my heart and soul into the party,” Theunissen said.

The debacle culminated in action by the VF Plus leadership against Theunissen, and he was removed as caucus leader.

Within days, Theunissen resigned from the Freedom Front Plus and joined the Democratic Alliance.

When he was asked whether Cilliers Brink would make a better mayor for Tshwane than Willie Spies, his answer focused on the candidates’ dedication towards the city.

“Cilliers Brink resigned from his Parliament seat to become Tshwane mayor. When he was booted out, he remained a councillor and stayed in the city,” he said.

“Brink said that he wants to complete the work which the DA started in 2021. He is willing to make sacrifices for this.”

“In contrast, Spies told me in a personal discussion that he does not truly have an interest in being a Tshwane councillor. His ambition is to return to Parliament.”

“He told me that he will attend a council meeting once a month, spend the rest of the time on his legal firm, and then make myself available as MP in 2029.”

This, Theunissen said, showed that Spies saw his mayoral candidacy as a way to return to politics and to the National Parliament.

Willie Spies responds

Spies dismissed Theunissen’s allegations, saying that he has lived in Pretoria for 50 years and was dedicated to the city.

“I was a Member of Parliament for five years and was re-elected in 2009. I voluntarily gave up my seat in parliament to focus on civil rights issues,” he said.

“When I did so, I gave up all the benefits of a parliamentary career to fight civil rights issues close to Pretoria residents’ hearts.”

In his legal practice, Spies fought many legal battles against the Tshwane Metro Council on behalf of the FF Plus and AfriForum.

These include saving Pretoria’s name, retaining street names, setting aside corrupt smart meter contracts, and preventing unfair taxes.

Spies also played a key role in stopping the illegal disconnection of electricity to Pretoria’s schools.

“My commitment to Pretoria, therefore, speaks for itself. I will remain a councillor, even if we are not part of the new city government,” he said.

Spies said that Theunissen felt threatened after he was nominated as the VF Plus’s mayoral candidate.

“Grandi Theunissen was so worried about his own position when I made myself available for election that he continuously threatened to cross over to the DA,” he said.

“Therefore, in a private conversation in which I tried to reassure him, I let him know that he did not need to be worried about me threatening his position.”

“I mentioned that I would be satisfied to be an ordinary councillor or perhaps re-enter parliamentary politics in the future.”

Spies said that Theunissen’s use of a private conversation to cast suspicion on his commitment to his work in the Tshwane Metro underscores his untrustworthiness.