The DA's attempts to oust Cape Town mayor Patricia de Lille appear headed for a showdown in the city council.
This week it emerged that the DA caucus in the council was divided on the mayor. Of the 154 DA councillors, 84 voted in favour of dismissing De Lille and 59 against, with eight abstentions. Two councillors left before the vote and there was one spoilt ballot.
A DA councillor sympathetic to De Lille said the party was "testing the waters" ahead of a full council vote in a no-confidence motion on the mayor. The DA would need a majority in the council of 231 members. Following the caucus vote, this is uncertain.
"The mayor has some considerable support," the sympathetic insider said.It was learnt that the DA councillors who want De Lille dismissed were trying to persuade those who supported her to change their votes.
"You assume that the position of members who voted either way will still be the same whenever voting [in council] were to take place," said Madikizela.
He said the next step was for the federal executive to "give guidance to the caucus".
The ANC leader in the council, Xolani Sotashe, said the party would not vote to dismiss De Lille.
"If De Lille has become a nuisance for them, she must continue to be such for them. They must get rid of her, the same way they brought her in. They must do it on their own; there's no support they will get from the ANC," he said.
Sources said De Lille won support from mayoral committee members Anda Ntsodo, Brett Herron and Siya Mamkeli among others. They were said to have told the caucus that a no-confidence motion was premature and that a political solution should be considered.
Those in support of De Lille's dismissal included the mayoral committee member responsible for safety, JP Smith, whose relationship with the mayor was said to have broken down "irretrievably".
On Friday Herron confirmed the discussions on De Lille. He said his plea for the healing of divisions had fallen on deaf ears.
Ntsodo said he was not part of any faction in the DA.
"I abide by and respect all the processes, procedures and decisions of the DA structures. I will never ever belong to any faction, nor promote divisions, or bring the DA or its members into disrepute."
He said he was confident that the federal executive would resolve the challenges "in the best interests of all Cape Town citizens".
Mamkeli and Smith could not be reached for comment.
DISSENSION IN THE PARTY
“I am not concerned. My heart is clean – that I’ve done nothing wrong. If there are allegations against me, it must be tested.” — Patricia de Lille on allegations of maladministration and nepotism levelled against her. “De Lille does not consider herself part of the DA, or at least considers herself more important than it and above party rules.” — DA councillor Mercia Kleinsmith...