Mother of (only) the City

In politics you never trust everything you being told. It’s a game of practically anything goes.

No matter how true it might be, Patricia De Lille’s reasons for resigning as Leader of the Democratic Alliance in the Western Cape had a number of things running through my mind.

As Mayor of the Mother City she might lead the biggest DA caucus, but she’s not the first to be a government and party leader. See below for other DA leaders in Government

This iron lady has also never shy away from a challenge and not even personal matters can prevent her from giving her best. De Lille also has strong and competent teams supporting her as executive mayor and provincial leader. With the newly revamped Mayco, with four mini-mayors and deputy executive mayor now without a portfolio one would assume it would lift the burden on the City’s number one.

De Lille, known by many for her integrity, cited making our cities, under a DA-government, great again – might be true. But one cannot ignore a few things, most notably her unofficial campaign heading to Leeuwenhof.

The former leader of the Independent Democrats has been tipped at becoming Premier if the DA retains its majority in the Western Cape in 2019. Former DA leader, Premier Helen Zille, is also rumoured to challenge De Lille for the provincial leadership later in November.

This resignation thus paves the way for the provincial Deputy Leader, Bonginkosi Madikizela, to be interim provincial leader. This could be part of De Lille and possibly the DA’s campaign to attract votes heading towards 2019. It could also be part of De Lille’s counter or an agreement to a possible Zille challenge for the November provincial congress.

Both Zille and De Lille are known for supporting change and new leaders emerging and Madikizela is one of the rising stars.

There however rumours doing the rounds that De Lille appeared before a disciplinary hearing. DA officials are mum on this but one can’t help but wonder, what if?

The rumour can make sense for the following:

National DA leadership rapping provincial leadership over the knuckles – for losing or decline support in certain municipalities – and De Lille as leader takes the blame.

Could also be that De Lille took the fall for the Kannaland caucus entering into a coalition with the ANC or the appointment of poo-protester, Loyiso Nkhola, as ESO (executive support officer) in the City of Cape Town.

I really find it difficult to believe that the first female to lead a political party cannot multitask between being both a party and government leader. De Lille was PAC Chief Whip and Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Transport (during the first democratic Parliament), leader of the Independent Democrats and Western Cape Social Development minister and served one term as Mayor and being DA provincial leader. Reasons thus given just don’t add up, considering there are others who juggle or juggled between party and government duties.

Helen Zille was Executive Mayor and DA Federal Leader. Dr. Ivan Meyer is Western Cape Finance Minister and DA Deputy Federal Chairperson, Bonginkosi Madikizela is provincial deputy leader and Western Cape Housing Minister. While provincial Social Development minister, adv. Albert Fritz and Eden Executive Mayor, Memory Booysen are both deputy provincial chairpersons and Tijmen van Essen (Swartland Executive Mayor) and Dan Plato (WC Community Safety minister) both additional members on the provincial leadership.

Whichever option you choose, Patricia de Lille now only mother to the City is good for the nearly 4 million residents in Cape Town, but possibly not for the DA and more than 2 million others in the rest of the Western Cape.