The opposition politician who lifted the lid on the multibillion-rand arms deal saga and who approached the courts to improve the lot of juveniles in the gang-ridden Pollsmoor Prison, has gone mainstream.
Patrica de Lille will don Cape Town’s mayoral chain on June 1 for the DA – after 27 years in the PAC and about seven years as leader of the ID.
But she insists that changing political colours – from the black, green and yellow of the PAC, to the ID’s orange and now the DA’s blue – does not mean she’s a chameleon when it comes to values.
“I will never change. I’m fighting for the same principles, values, vision that we fought for against apartheid. We are still dealing with the legacy of apartheid.
“The DA is the closest that you get to carrying out our constitutional mandate… How do you make the constitution a living document? That is what we are all about.”
It has been a long, at times bumpy, journey, which began with the ID throwing its weight behind the DA in Cape Town around three years ago. That municipal co-operation effectively steered the city away from a potentially difficult seven-party coalition under then mayor Helen Zille – a coalition the ID in 2006 wanted no part of, because it had backed the ANC.
The toenadering between the ID and DA smoothed the way for what has effectively become a merger at municipal level and signs are that a similar deal is in the offing for the 2014 national/provincial elections. Given that floor-crossing was abolished some time ago, this incremental absorption is the only option for political parties wanting to join forces while retaining seats in councils and legislatures.
Clearly, De Lille, 60, has already been briefed about the city. Between now and her formal nomination as mayor at the first council sitting, she will shape “The Plan” for the city and its R23 billion budget.
She’s already had a hand in it: from advising how to deal with Tafelsig land invaders to boosting the R5 million social development allocation to R54m – with much of the money earmarked for early childhood development centres, the homeless and street children so “we can make sure we build a caring city”.
As Western Cape social development MEC, she signed a co-operation protocol with the city last year.
Enclosing the Khayelitsha toilets, along with expanding the rapid bus transit system from Table View and Milnerton to poverty-stricken Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain – election issues the ANC used to highlight DA delivery to the rich – are priorities.
Other plans include introducing a wage subsidy to train young people in the city’s utility services – “The last 200 electricians we trained were taken up by the private sector, but we don’t mind,” she says – and ensuring that residents of the Cape Flats and townships can access, toll-free, the city’s call centre, which currently receives thousands of calls from ratepayers.
“I would like to see every councillor, every month, get a printout of the complaints coming from (their) ward and physically go to the people and check up… They must help me to build this city where people can feel they are getting the services they deserve.”
How much does the DA trust De Lille, who has a reputation for being a bit of a loose cannon?
Zille has backed her publicly. However, De Lille’s appearances at the provincial Independent Electoral Commission results centre were directed via phone calls so she’s available for interviews. DA staffers, some quite young, accompany her and watch over interviews, including this one.
One experienced journalist observed that De Lille was seen walking around with a book, which she jokingly referred to as her DA policy bible.
Has she lost her edge?
“It’s good if you are in opposition; opposition politicians thrive on that. When the shoe is on the other foot like it is now, it is completely different. That’s when the stones get thrown at you. So, no, it’s not lost. My passion, my love for my people and the country is still there.”
She laughs about being described a party hopper. “I can tell you, I don’t care… The opinion that matters most to me – and I looked at it many times when I read his book – is what Nelson Mandela said about me. He said I’m a relentless, fearless, principled fighter. That opinion is important, not other opinions.”
De Lille promises to be a mayor for everyone: “All my political life I have been a voice for the poor people, for the voiceless… But now that I am mayor-in-waiting I will be the mayor for all the people of Cape Town.”
And, no, she has not yet picked the curtains for her mayoral offices. “I just want my windows to be open and to have fresh air. That’s why I never get sick, because I don’t like air conditioning.”
But De Lille comes into office against a record of no Cape Town mayor serving a full five-year term, either because of floor-crossing, elections or relocation to the Premier’s office in Wale Street. Will she stay the course? “I really don’t know, I can’t see that far into the future.” - Marianne Merten (Political Bureau)