De Lille charged by DA, but still Cape Town mayor

Beleaguered politician Patricia de Lille will remain Cape Town mayor for the next 60 days while the DA’s Federal Executive investigates charges of failing to perform her duties and for bringing the “good name of the party into disrepute”.

The decision to charge De Lille followed a meeting of the party’s federal executive yesterday.

This follows after a subcommittee of the executive had been tasked to probe a series of allegations against the mayor over the past few months, including that she tried to cover up maladministration, losses incurred by the city, and sowing divisions within the City of Cape Town DA caucus.

“It will be interesting to see how the DA moves forward,” political analyst Zamikhaya Maseti said. “What is happening in the City of Cape Town is amazing because most of the DA municipalities are professionally run. “It is good they are investigating the issues and hopefully the DA will be able to make a sound judgment.”

The DA is also alleging “problematic involvement in tender decisions” and has “removed her from any role in managing and directing the City’s response to the prolonged drought during the period of these investigations”.

DA leader Mmusi Maimane yesterday briefed the media on the action against De Lille.

“The executive could not ignore the fact that for the first time in Cape Town’s history, a council-mandated independent investigation took the view that the sitting mayor had demonstrated behaviour and actions which, on the basis of extensive evidence, including the mayor’s own representations, prima facie constituted gross misconduct, gross dereliction of duty, and conduct that amounted to deceiving council,” Maimane said.

“Her alleged improper conduct includes obstructing remedial and disciplinary action being taken for losses from the MyCiti system estimated at R36 million.”

Maseti said De Lille garnered support from many people of colour from the Western Cape. “If the DA gets rid of her, it runs the risk of alienating large critical constituencies in the Western Cape.

You might see the realignment of voters, Patricia de Lille, and maybe some sections of the ANC,” Maseti said.

Huge relief, says De Lille

It’s a huge relief that justice prevailed today, Patricia de Lille said yesterday.

“I note the resolutions which do not include a demand for my resignation or allowing a motion of no confidence against me. “I welcome the fact that the DA has taken the decision to formally charge me. It is disappointing … that they are already stripping me of my powers.

“All that I was asking for was a fair chance to clear my name from the aspersions which were cast on my character.

– amandaw@citizen.co.za

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