Cape Town mayor Patricia de Lille outside parliament. Picture: ANA
Twitter has reacted to today’s announcement that Patricia de Lille’s Democratic Alliance membership will be terminated because the Cape Town mayor had breached the party’s constitution.
The announcement was made by the party’s leadership, including federal chair James Selfe and his deputy, Natasha Mazzone.
The DA federal executive decided to endorse the finding of its federal legal commission that De Lille’s membership had ceased as of April 26.
On the day, De Lille was on Radio 702 with Eusebius McKaiser. She on two occasions indicated she intended to resign from the DA.
Twitter reaction has given rise to the trending hashtag, #DeLille, with users on the platform sharing their views and reactions to the announcement.
One user said DA leader Mmusi Maimane had lacked the courage to make the announcement, but during the briefing this morning, Mazzone said the party had tasked her with making the announcement because she had been the one who engaged the public and media on matters surrounding De Lille.
Other users speculated that De Lille would likely seek a new home in the EFF. This speculation was fuelled by her attending an EFF-organised memorial for Winnie Madikizela Mandela, a move she had not communicated with the DA.
Other users, including ANC election head Fikile Mbalula, highlighted that Western Cape Premier Helen Zille was the last woman leader who remained within the folds of the DA from the time she, Lindiwe Mazibuko and De Lille occupied the upper echelons of the party.
Here are more tweets:
De Lille is expected to respond to the axing at around noon today.
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