S. Africa main opposition ‘kicks out’ Cape Town mayor

By Hassan Isilow

JOHANNESBURG (AA) - South Africa’s main opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) on Tuesday expelled Mayor of Cape Town Patricia de Lille from the party over several allegations.

De Lille will not be able to continue to serve as mayor.

Some of the allegations against her include inappropriately re-appointing the city manager, the Stadium Management Board, and failure to exercise her duties as mayor.

“We wish Ms. de Lille well in her future endeavors and thank her for the service she has given the Party,” a statement by the DA said.

The party’s top decision-making body, the federal executive, told a media briefing on Tuesday that the mayor’s membership had been revoked on April 26 when she appeared on a radio show and challenged the party on the allegations leveled against her.

De Lille, 67, had wanted her hearing to be made public but the party said it was not its policy.

The DA claims that de Lille had indicated her intention to resign, which the party says is tantamount to resignation.

In 2003, de Lille founded the Independent Democrats Party but seven years later merged with the DA. In 2011, she became the mayor of Cape Town.

Political analysts fear, if she joins the ruling African National Congress (ANC), they might win over the city of Cape Town, which has been under the DA for a long time.