CAPE TOWN – The Democratic Alliance (DA) says it has no plans to bring a motion but it also won’t oppose a motion of no-confidence brought by other parties in embattled Cape Town Mayor Patricia de Lille.
The African National Congress (ANC) plans to bring a motion after accusations emerged the mayor overlooked corruption and maladministration in the council – allegations she repeatedly refuted.
The ANC has a motion slated for the end of January.
The metro will hold a special council meeting on Friday to discuss, among other things, allegations of tender irregularities against de Lille, recently resigned former City Manager Achmat Ebrahim and transport commissioner Melissa Whitehead.
The second of the two burning issues on the municipality’s agenda is another politically contentious issue – the proposed water tax – as the Mother City grapples with its worst drought in nearly a century.
The metro has enough usable surface water to last around three months.
Both issues could lead to the premature end of de Lille’s political career within the DA and the council.
If DA councillors support the motion against de Lille, she could be out of a job before her disciplinary hearing by the party even starts.
Meanwhile, Western Cape DA leaders say they won’t push for the motion, just yet.
DA Cape metropole chairperson Grant Twigg said: “There’s an appetite to lead the people of Cape Town, there’s a very big appetite to do that.”
