Cape Town Mayor Patricia De Lille’s time in office may be coming to an end sooner rather than later, after reports emerged that the Democratic Alliance’s metro caucus has recommended she be removed.
“Patricia De Lille has lost the confidence of the Metro Executive, the relevant political authority. We are of the view that the City of Cape Town requires stability, unity and functionality – which we believe she cannot deliver,” Grant Twigg, DA metro leader said on Wednesday.
De Lille has been mayor since 2011.
“I communicated our recommendations to party leadership and trust they will act swiftly in the best interests of the organisation … The metro executive has not taken these decisions lightly but after careful consideration and deliberation,” Twigg told IOL.
According to the DA’s procedures, a mayor or any office bearer may be asked to resign following due process.
Whistle-blowers and the ANC in Cape Town have accused De Lille of covering up corruption and not acting on several investigations by the city’s internal audit committee.
De Lille is accused of blocking an investigation into transport commissioner Melissa Whitehead.
The metro council is taking disciplinary action against city manager Achmat Ebrahim and Whitehead, who are accused of tender irregularities involving the MyCiti bus system.
De Lille is not backing down though and is defending her rights.
She told EWN: “They are entitled to take any decisions that will have to be processed through the channels within the Democratic Alliance. They can only make recommendations to the Federal Executive.”
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