De Lille's sin is being black‚ supporters sing on court steps

A crowd singing Patricia de Lille’s praises gathered on the steps of the High Court in Cape Town on Tuesday as the mayor prepared for a legal showdown with the DA.

De Lille‚ who faces a vote of no confidence brought by her party on Thursday‚ has hauled the DA before the court to compel it to allow a secret ballot.

This follows a public spat between the De Lille and her party over allegations of maladministration and corruption.

De Lille‚ who has retained advocate Dali Mpofu‚ was expected to attend the hearing.

Leading her supporters outside court was Lulama Bini from Hout Bay‚ who told TimesLive: “We are here to support our mayor who supported us last year during a fire that was raging in Mandela Park informal settlement.

“She gave us hope and kept her promises. She did deliver. We have water‚ electricity and toilets. I am not a DA member. I am supporting her as mayor of Cape Town.”

As the crowd sang that De Lille’s “sin was being black”‚ Bini said some officials wanted black people to be removed from Hout Bay and “dumped near the airport”. He said DA provincial leader Bonginkosi Madikizela‚ who is also the provincial housing MEC and De Lille’s likely successor as mayor‚ supported the move.

“We are worried of losing a lot if she is removed. Our kids go to school in Hout Bay‚ we work in Hout Bay. The accusations are only emerging now. She doesn't know we are here‚” said Bini.

Madikizela was booed by the crowd as he arrived for the hearing.