The DA’s federal executive this morning confirmed the cessation of Patricia de Lille’s membership of the party.
In a statement issued at 10:00 this morning, Natasha Mazzone, deputy chairperson of the DA’s federal council said that this cessation was based on De Lille herself in a radio interview with Eusebius McKaizer on Radio 702 on 26 April, admitting that she would quit the party, after having cleared her name in court.
In the interview De Lille stated: “I will walk away… The Democratic Alliance Constitution provides, in section 3.5.1.2, that ‘A member ceases to be a member when he or she publicly declares his or her intention to resign and/or publicly declares his or her resignation from the party’.”
Mazzone says De Lille was invited to explain why she had not, as a matter of fact, ceased to be a member by virtue of this section when she admitted that she intended to resign.
“She attempted to argue that this referred to resigning as mayor. The Federal Legal Council (FLC) found that the context showed very clearly that she intended to resign from the DA.
“Accordingly, the Federal Executive resolved last night to endorse the finding of the FLC that her membership had ceased as of 26 April, the date of the 702 interview,” said Mazzone.
“The fact that she has ceased to be a member renders the other processes the disciplinary and the operation of the accountability clause null and void,” she added.
In effect, according to Georgina Alexander-Maree, from the DA Press Office, De Lille as of this morning is no longer mayor of Cape Town.
“Deputy Mayor Ian Neilson will be acting mayor until a new mayor is elected within the next 90 days,” she said.
De Lille is expected to make a statement at 12:00 today.
At 12:30, acting executive mayor Ian Neilson, Speaker of the City of Cape Town Dirk Smit and Lungelo Mbandazayo, City Manager of the City of Cape Town, will host a press briefing on changes within the leadership structure of the City.
