So Many Questions: Patricia de Lille

Cape Town's decision to award the Freedom of the City to US President Barack Obama has met with political resistance. Chris Barron asks mayor Patricia de Lille...

Here is a man who has not kept his promise to close Guantanamo Bay, right?

No, but you're already off the mark. You should ask me what is the process and what are the criteria for awarding the freedom of the city.

So what are the criteria?

They're the same criteria we used to award Nelson Mandela the freedom of the city, and Archbishop [Desmond] Tutu.

But they're both conspicuously men of peace. Is Obama?

Ag, no, did you phone me for an interview or should I call you for an interview?

Carry on.

We have a process and policies for awarding deserving individuals. And that is what we have used to award the freedom of the city to Obama, Mandela and Tutu.

Would you agree that Mandela and Tutu are universally associated with peace, while Obama is associated with Guantanamo Bay and drones?

Archbishop Tutu, Nelson Mandela and President Obama are three different individuals recognised for different things. We use the criteria prescribed in our policy to select persons ...

What qualified Obama?

We are recognising Obama for his contribution to democracy in America, his contribution to the style of electioneering and what he has brought to democracy.

Isn't a freedom of the city award supposed to bring the people of that city together?

You must understand that people are entitled to their own opinion. We are happy that we followed due process.

Isn't it something that should enjoy the broadest possible support?

Well, you know, we won an election in 2011 where we got 61% of the vote in the city of Cape Town. In terms of democracy, council voted on this and more than 130 councillors voted for it.

Out of how many?

It was only the ANC who abstained. You know we are the majority in the council, 130 out of 200.

Wouldn't it have been wise to seek as much consensus as possible?

You're not understanding that we follow our policy to the letter and to the T, and that is what we've done in terms of this.

Is it worth sticking to a policy if it alienates a significant portion of the population?

How do you determine that?

The Muslim community is very upset and ...

I can tell you it is not all the Muslim communities in Cape Town. We have got Muslims that voted with us in the council.

With something like this shouldn't there be a referendum?

That is not the policy. Does President [Jacob] Zuma have to conduct a referendum when he gives awards every year on Freedom Day? Do premiers and mayors have to conduct a referendum when they issue awards?

You keep returning to your policy but isn't it insensitive to give to the president of a country that has played a divisive role in the international Muslim community the freedom of a city containing large numbers of Muslims?

You now want to play up the issue of divide here. The idea is to recognise the good things in people across the world.

Shouldn't it go to more of a role model?

That is your opinion if you think he is not a role model.

What kind of role model supports Guantanamo Bay and drones that kill innocent civilians, women and children?

I heard him say we have to do away with Guantanamo Bay because it has served its purpose. But I don't want to talk about the merits or demerits of Guantanamo Bay. I'm prepared to talk about the approval of a decision by a council elected by the people of Cape Town.

What has he done for Cape Town, or is that not an issue either?

It's an issue of what he has done for the world.

What has he done for the world?

He is the first black president of America. Isn't that an achievement after 200 years?

If you're looking for a black president, wouldn't President Joyce Banda of Malawi have been a worthier recipient?

Do me a favour and go and look at all the people who have been given awards by President Zuma and his predecessors in the past 15 years. Look through the list and tell me what criteria you think have been applied.

Wouldn't Banda be a more relevant role model for us and perhaps for some of our leaders?

We don't just wake up one morning and decide that we're going to give the freedom of the city to anybody.

Is Obama going to come here to fetch the award?

No, he doesn't need to, it's not a must.

Isn't the value of the award diminished if he receives it in the post?

No, the value is that he and his wife have accepted the award. Not where or how he receives it.