You can't down De Lille‚ as the DA is discovering

28 June 2018 - 08:07
By Philani Nombembe
Mayor of Cape Town Patricia de Lille celebrates her victory against the Democratic Alliance after the judge ruled in favour of her at the Western High Court on June 27 2018.
Image: ESA ALEXANDER/SUNDAY TIMES Mayor of Cape Town Patricia de Lille celebrates her victory against the Democratic Alliance after the judge ruled in favour of her at the Western High Court on June 27 2018.

Patricia de Lille had barely emerged from her court victory on Wednesday when she slipped on her boxing gloves again.

A full bench of the High Court in Cape Town reinstated De Lille’s DA membership‚ and she stays on as mayor – for now.

There seems to be no end in sight for the legal impasse between the beleaguered mayor and the DA. The warring parties will be back in court on Thursday‚ butting heads over access to the Steenhuisen Report.

The report‚ compiled by a team headed by DA chief whip John Steenhuisen last year‚ was the basis of the disciplinary action against De Lille.

The report accused her of interfering with the appointment of the municipal manager. It also accused De Lille‚ among other things‚ of doling out patronage and protection to controversial Ses’Khona leader Loyiso Nkohla‚ who is the city’s community liaison officer.

De Lille said her victory sent a strong message that no one is above the law. She urged political parties to learn “to treat our members with respect”.

The DA‚ meanwhile‚ said it would appeal the judgment.

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