Home » DA Suspends Cape Town Mayor Patricia de Lille

DA Suspends Cape Town Mayor Patricia de Lille

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has placed the Mayor of Cape Town, Patricia De Lille, on suspension, and has asked her to supply reasons to the Federal Executive on why she should not resign as the mayor. DA National Spokesperson Phumzile Van Damme said on Thursday night that the DA is acting in the interest of […]

By SAPeople
15-12-17 10:41
in Eish!

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has placed the Mayor of Cape Town, Patricia De Lille, on suspension, and has asked her to supply reasons to the Federal Executive on why she should not resign as the mayor.

DA National Spokesperson Phumzile Van Damme said on Thursday night that the DA is acting in the interest of a “clean government that delivers for Cape Town”.

She said the DA’s Federal Executive had become aware of the alleged existence of a number of issues in the DA’s City of Cape Town caucus… including a series of reports and an affidavit containing “troubling allegations of maladministration” in the City.

She did not divulge details about the allegations… but it is reported they include De Lille asking for a report into a large loss – regarding a tender – to be made to “go away”, and wanting to publicly discredit a staff member who questioned  alleged irregularities with a tender.

Van Damme said a sub-committee was established to investigate the allegations, and has just completed its task.

The committee found “sufficient management and governance-related challenges” in the City of Cape Town (COCT) caucus, which are negatively impacting the City’s mandate to govern efficiently for the people of Cape Town, she said.

DA Leader Mmusi Maimane has therefore directed the caucus of the COCT to establish an independent investigation to probe these allegations.

“In the light of these developments, it was the view of the Federal Executive that the Mayor of Cape Town, Patricia De Lille, needed to be placed on suspension pending the outcome of these ongoing investigations.

“The Federal Executive has also asked her to supply reasons why she should not resign as the mayor. At this stage, no decision, other than suspension has been made, pending the provision of the reasons requested by the Federal Executive.”

The DA said it remains committed to clean administrations and that’s why it’s of “paramount importance that we get to the bottom of these allegations and swift leadership changes be made should they be found to be true so that our commitment to deliver to the people of Cape Town is not derailed”.

In October De Lille and Councillor JP Smith were placed on “Special Leave” from DA metro activities following a public spat after she shut down the City’s special investigations unit, which he had overseen. At the time De Lille said in a statement that she felt Smith was “dragging my name through the mud for the sake of sensationalism”. His unit had allegedly discovered security upgrades to her home were not legal, and that – according to News24 – “some city councillors may have been involved in a murder”.

De Lille has until Monday to respond.

Patricia de Lille on Thursday morning, before the news:

Patricia de Lille with the Blitzbokke last week: