Mazibuko defends De Lille in firestorm
Ex-DA leader in the House lambastes party’s ‘dog-whistle politics’
UNDER FIRE mayor Patricia de Lille is ready to go to court in a bid to clear her name of bribery and corruption claims made by a Gauteng businessman, dating back to 2013. De Lille also said she is not clinging to the mayorship and is willing to walk, but not in the current circumstances.
“It is clear that they don’t want me here, but I am not going to walk in the current circumstances. They are hoping I will get fed up and walk away, but I am not going to do that,” she said.
The DA last week laid criminal charges against De Lille, after Anthony Faul claimed that De Lille solicited a bribe to the tune of R5 million.
Police have confirmed that they are investigating claims made by the DA and that no one has been arrested.
The Cape Argus is possession of e-mails between De Lille’s office and Faul where she refused a meeting with Faul after he failed to pitch for meetings.
Faul owns a fire safety company and was to provide about 1 000 fire extinguishers to the City, but requested a letter of intent from the City before delivering the product.
He requested a meeting with De Lille after several failed attempts. In the e-mail he mentions a “donation”, which he and his funders were able to give.
De Lille refused the meeting and made it clear that she will not be willing to reconsider her decision. De Lille also withdrew the City’s letter of endorsement.
“The man could not provide the services and I left it at that. There was no bribe that I accepted or solicited,” she said.
In his affidavit, Faul claimed he got a call on January 8, 2013, from De Lille.
“The person identified herself as Patricia de Lille and she phoned in respect of the demonstration and her letter. I also recognised her voice,” he said.
Meanwhile, former DA leader in Parliament Lindiwe Mazibuko has come out in support of De Lille.
“I am sick of people describing Patricia de Lille as “power drunk”, as if this empty accusation can be legitimised by repetition.
“A black woman’s ambition is not a crime. A black woman exercising power in elected office is not an aberration. We see you and your dog-whistle politics,” she said.
Erstwhile poo-thrower Loyiso Nkohla claims the DA has plans to remove mainly black and coloured councillors from the City’s mayoral committee.
“That’s the DA at its best. It uses black people… Throws them into a political dustbin after painting them with a brush of corruption, as they are trying to do to Patricia.
“Peter Marais and Gerald Morkel were removed by the DA and the same leader who championed the removal of these two black mayors was the same James Selfe.”