patricia de lille new political party

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – JUNE 05: Cape Town Mayor Patricia de Lille during the verdict on her DA membership at the High Court on June 05, 2018 in Cape Town, South Africa. De Lille took the DA to court after the party rescinded her membership following her radio interview on April 26. (Photo by Gallo Images/ Brenton Geach)

More De Lille confusion as Cape Town council may have to revote to reduce Mayor’s powers

Currently, De Lille just has “ceremonial” powers as Mayor.

patricia de lille new political party

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – JUNE 05: Cape Town Mayor Patricia de Lille during the verdict on her DA membership at the High Court on June 05, 2018 in Cape Town, South Africa. De Lille took the DA to court after the party rescinded her membership following her radio interview on April 26. (Photo by Gallo Images/ Brenton Geach)

On Wednesday, Patrica De Lille secured her biggest victory yet against the DA. According to the court, the DA was wrong to terminate her membership. Remember, the act of terminating her DA membership is how the party intended to remove her as Mayor of Cape Town.

Patrice De Lille: What Mayoral powers does she have?

News24 reports that The City of Cape Town council might have to hold a second motion to reduce De Lille’s executive powers as mayor. While the council have indeed passed this motion before, deficiencies have now been raised in the first resolution.

Watch: The moment Patricia de Lille learned she beat the DA

On the last day of May, council agreed to a reduce De Lille to a “ceremonial” role. This meant that she would have to delegate all of her decisions to the mayoral committee (mayco) for consensus. Final oversight was to be held by the council.

Since De Lille was reinstated by the court as Mayor in May, she has been taking part in various engagements and meeting with mayco.

Speaker Dirk Smit has told News24 that he was seeking legal advice on whether the council needed to resubmit a new motion to confirm De Lille’s “ceremonial” powers.

“I can only say that I am seeking legal counsel and legal advice and have not received the answer from the advocate yet.”

The publication reports that a letter from MEC for Local Governance, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Anton Bredell, reveals that a revised resolution on De Lille’s powers could be coming soon.

“I have received correspondence from the office of the speaker, indicating that deficiencies were identified in the resolution of May 31, 2018 and that legal advice obtained, suggested a redraft of the designated powers.”

“I am also informed that it is intended to submit a recommendation for a revised resolution to the City council at its next meeting on July 26, 2018,” Bredell’s letter said.

After the council initially took the decision to lessen De Lille’s powers, the Mayor reached out to Bredell for his opinion.

If a motion did need to be submitted, it would have to take place seven days before the next council meeting. That meeting is scheduled for 26 July.

The original motion to reduce De Lille’s powers was tabled by Deputy Mayor Ian Neilson. In it, De Lille had to obtain approval from mayco for all travel, local and international.

The ANC and EFF rejected the proposal.