EDITOR’S NOTE: Expect more drama after Patricia de Lille’s departure

WHEN I met Cape Town mayor Patricia de Lille back in the early 1990s when the PAC gathered for its first congress after unbanning in uMthatha, she struck me as a very wise, visionary woman.

Throughout the congress, De Lille rocked the “African attire” that added to her natural charisma and commanded attention. It’s therefore sad to see her leaving that beautiful city council that has been the paragon of good governance under a cloud.

I thought Day Zero was firmly behind us all and the hatchet was buried deep under the Table Mountain.

Clearly, De Lille will not disappear quietly over the horizon. There’s more drama in store. As they say in the Cape, die poppe sal dans. But perhaps it’s not such a bad thing for multiparty democracy. Out of the “dark cloud” she refuses to exit.

Under the Independent Democrats she may rise again and provide another voice, another choice for voters in the all-important general elections of next year.

But there’s been drama around many other mayors across the country this week. Tshwane’s Solly Msimanga seems to be on the way out, Matlosana Mayor Maetu Kgaile in North West had her mayoral chain snatched off by a gang that included her ANC comrades and Ekurhuleni Mayor Mzwandile Masina had a narrow escape.

At least, unlike in the US, no one is mailing bombs. And let’s hope it’s not merely a vote of no confidence in our post office.