Patricia de Lille’s resignation has thrown up a lot more questions than it has answers.
Last week I said I would bet good money on De Lille and the DA reaching an agreement before this week’s anticipated and public disciplinary hearing.
I didn’t believe that either of them (especially the DA) could afford the dirt that was likely to come out at such a hearing.
So after meeting with DA leader Mmusi Maimane, the predicted deal was struck; Aunty Pat handed in her resignation, but will continue to be our Executive Mayor until 31 October.
Amicable on the surface, but the finer detail remains a mystery.
De Lille remains in the party, but will no longer be subjected to its disciplinary processes. However, she may still be disciplined by the City; a process that is unlikely to be public.
The most obvious of the many questions is considering all the evidence DA members claimed the party has against De Lille, why settle privately, when you could publicly expose her and vindicate yourselves?
While the DA has apparently agreed to apologise to De Lille, why would she accept a deal and open herself up to leaving the City under a cloud of untested allegations and suspicion? And other than the apology, what offer was finally put on the table that she simply couldn’t refuse?
While I am happy that the Civic Centre drama is finally coming to an end, I am sad that we will now never know the details of what actually happened.
I previously said that I would be the first to change my mind about De Lille if I could see the evidence that was being referred to.
While I have my doubts about the charges against her, I was prepared to eat humble pie and withdraw my support for her, based on any evidence.
So, yes, I do feel strung along and cheated.
As a voter, I feel that I have the right to know details that would help me make a decision about my municipal leadership and who gets my support in the next elections.
Be that as it may and since all my previous predictions turned out to be true, I am going to put myself out there with some more.
I still believe De Lille will end up as Premier of the Western Cape.
It’s the only thing that makes sense in the light of her decision to remain a DA member, despite the treatment she received.
With Helen Zille as precedent, De Lille’s opiniona- ted personality will be more tolerated as premier than as mayor.
I predict that when she finally vacates her office on 31 October, her deputy Ian Nielson will take over as interim mayor.
I reckon De Lille’s permanent successor will end up either being her current Safety and Security Mayco Member, JP Smith, or the man De Lille originally suspected was being groomed to succeed her - DA provincial leader Bonginkosi Madikizela.
But for me, the final word on this ugly business goes to the DA’s former parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko, who last week summed the whole messy saga up by saying that she smells a rat.
And when it comes to the elusive evidence, she had this to say: “A woman who is accused of having a ‘bad management style’... I’ve never heard of a man in politics being accused of having a bad management style. She’s an ‘uppity’ woman of colour. Is that what she was accused of?”
I think so, Lindiwe. We all think so!