De Lille ends ‘abuse, oppression’ by resigning as mayor, DA member
Patricia de Lille has indicated that she will resign as the Executive Mayor of the City of Cape Town and from her political party, the Democratic Alliance (DA).
“I’m free from that abusive relationship,” shouted De Lille on Wednesday afternoon after she announced her double resignation.
She made the announcement on the steps of the Western Cape High Court where she also filed papers to set aside two reports which implicates her in improper conduct and corruption.
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“When people abuse you, you must walk away. When you have to work with people that throw you with dirt, you walk away. I have been fighting from a very young age in my life.”
De Lille says she will also resign from the DA, because its members are “rudderless, leaderless and can’t give direction”.
“So, it’s my long walk to freedom, after 18 months I’m free from oppression and its feels like that day when we got our freedom on the 27 April 1994.”
Two other counsellors followed suit and resigned, bringing the total of members stepping down in solidarity with De Lille to seven.
De Lille says she will be taking two weeks to consult with her family on the next chapter in her political life.
She also promised to finish her book.
“I have received many offers from civil society and I will be weighing all of that up and put a balance with the next phase of my life.”