De Lille pushes for open hearing

THE DA’s disciplinary panel will decide today whether the hearing against Cape Town mayor Patricia de Lille will be held behind closed doors.

Yesterday morning, De Lille went on radio to speak about the importance of allowing the media and the public access to the hearing.

She also issued a statement on Sunday explaining her position.

“My lawyers have emphasised to the party that I can only restore my reputation if the public is able to view and assess for themselves whether the process is fair‚” De Lille said.

“The party‚ however‚ wants a closed hearing and‚ quite ironically‚ it is Glynnis Breytenbach‚ who fought for her own disciplinary hearing to be open when she was at the NPA‚ who is leading the fight for a secret hearing.”

When contacted, Breytenbach‚ the chairwoman of the DA’s federal legal commission‚ said: “It is unfortunate that Ms De Lille refers to me in person because‚ of course‚ it was not me in person‚ it is the party’s stance. I represent the party.”

DA federal council chairman James Selfe said the panel would meet today to decide whether or not the hearing would be open to the public and the media.

“The panel has asked for heads of argument on this issue,” he said.

“It will be argued as the first item in limine before the hearing starts and I imagine they will give a judgment there and then.”

De Lille has come under fire for allegedly interfering with staff selection processes and maladministration. In her statement, she pointed out that she had not been charged with corruption and said the bulk of the charges against her “concern allegations of highly technical transgressions which do not involve me at all‚ other than the contention that as the ‘boss’ of the city I should be held liable”.

Meanwhile, it was business as usual for De Lille.

Yesterday, she hosted 40 beneficiaries of a Rondebosch East land claim for a ceremonial handover of the land. – TimesLIVE