DA appeals court ruling on De Lille
THE DA has appealed against the Western Cape High Court decision to reinstate Patricia de Lille as a mayor and a party member.
DA’s Federal executive deputy chairperson Natasha Mazzone said the party took the decision to appeal against the judgment and informed the Federal Council of this decision at the weekend.
“The judgment will be appealed in terms of the fact that the court found we had erred in our processes, however, we very respectfully disagree,” said Mazzone.
Responding to the appeal, De Lille said she respected the DA’s right to appeal against the court’s judgment.
“After all, a fair trial includes the right to appeal,” De Lille said.
Late last month the Western Cape High Court ruled in favour of De Lille, who had challenged the termination of her party membership, which saw her stripped of her mayoral powers.
The court found the DA had violated its own constitution and rules when it stripped De Lille of her party membership. The court found that she was not given a fair opportunity and time to submit evidence to fight the cessation of her membership.
Political analyst Keith Gottschalk said for democracy the DA’s appeal “shows litigation is a major component in South African democracy”.
“For de Lille, it is an ongoing financial drain on her and her donors. For the DA, it is an interminable saga, along with their fights with the mayors of George and Knysna (municipalities), which, so far, does not help their voting appeal.
“Either the DA has not in the past chosen its Cape Town, George, and Knysna mayors carefully enough, or it needs to manage such conflicts more skilfully in the future. The DA would need to persuade a big enough majority of its relevant municipal caucus to remove the mayor. Or, to negotiate a wider coalition in that municipality,” said Gottschalk.