South Africa’s DA Puts Cape Town Mayor on Leave From Party Activity

JOHANNESBURG(Capital Markets in Africa) – South Africa’s main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, placed City of Cape Town Mayor Patricia de Lille and councillor J.P. Smith on special leave from the organization’s activities.

Smith and members of the city’s Internal Investigations Unit allegedly made malicious and defamatory remarks about De Lille, Business Day reported Tuesday, citing a statement from the mayor. Some local newspapers reported that De Lille had “irregular” upgrades done at her home, it said. She claims she has proof that she had paid for them, according to Business Day.

DA leader Mmusi Maimane called on De Lille and Smith to “account for their actions at a meeting held last night,” the party said in an emailed statement. The DA has convened a special sub-committee of its Federal Executive to investigate the political management and governance situation in the City of Cape Town, and to report back to the full executive on any further action required.

John Steenhuisen will chair the sub-committee, which will start its hearings today. Cape Town is the only one of South Africa’s eight metropolitan areas where the DA has outright control of the local administration.

The leave means De Lille and Smith can’t attend DA caucus meetings, interact with caucus members or others who may testify before the committee or attend party meetings, the DA said. It doesn’t affect their candidacy for provincial elected positions, nor does it affect their work in government.

Source: Bloomberg Business News