Patricia de Lille

**Patricia de Lille** (wey dem born as **Patricia Lindt** on 17 February 1951) be South African politician wey dey serve as de Minister of Tourism now, plus she be de leader for de political party Good. Before dis role, she serve as Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure from 2019 go reach 2023.

She be Mayor insyd Cape Town from 2011 to 2018, plus before dat, she serve as Western Cape Provincial Minister of Social Development from 2010 to 2011. She na de one wey form plus lead de Independent Democrats (ID), political party wey she start for 2003 during floor-crossing window afta she comot from de Pan Africanist Congress (PAC). For August 2010, de ID join body plus de Democratic Alliance, wey be South Africa ein official opposition, plus dem dissolve de party officially for 2014. From 2015 reach 2017, she be de Provincial Leader of de Democratic Alliance for Western Cape.

De Lille be de one wey dem choose as de DA ein mayoral candidate insyd Cape Town, wey she take defeat de one wey dey there already, Dan Plato, before de 2011 local government elections. She come win de mayoral seat, plus dem elect her again for second term during de 2016 local government elections.

De Lille get vote as number 22 inside de Top 100 Great South Africans, plus dem dey recognize am for de role wey she play inside investigations about de kontri ein controversial Arms Deal.

Insyd 8 May 2018, de DA ein Federal Executive cancel De Lille ein party membership, wey make dem comot am as mayor for de DA-controlled city. But de Western Cape High Court come suspend de removal for small time. On 5 August 2018, De Lille talk say she go resign as Mayor of Cape Town. She resign as mayor plus cancel ein DA party membership for 31 October 2018.

Because of dis, she form Good party for December 2018, plus insyd February 2019, dem announce say she go be de party ein Western Cape Premier candidate. She win seat for Parliament inside May 2019, plus start work as Member on 22 May 2019. On 29 May 2019, President Cyril Ramaphosa appoint her as Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure. For March 2023, she become Minister of Tourism, plus dem reappoint her again on 30 June 2024.

## Background
Dem born De Lille insyd 1951 insyd Beaufort West, plus she go Bastiaanse Hoërskool. Insyd 1974, she start work as laboratory technician for one factory. She continue work for de same company till 1990. During dat time, she join de South African Chemical Workers Union, start as shop steward, then become regional secretary, before dem elect her as National Executive Member for 1983. Insyd 1988, dem elect her as National Vice-President for de National Council of Trade Unions (NACTU), wey be de highest position wey any woman hold inside de trade union movement for dat time.

## Political career
Insyd 1989, De Lille get elect go de National Executive Committee of de Pan Africanist Movement (PAM). She lead one delegation for de constitutional negotiations wey come before South Africa ein first democratic election insyd 1994, plus after dem elect her as Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) Member of Parliament, she come get appointment as Chairperson for de Parliamentary Committee on Transport from 1994 reach 1999. She sana serve for different portfolio Committees like Health, Minerals plus Energy, Trade plus Industry, Communications, de Rules Committee plus de Code of Ethics.

Later, she use parliamentary privilege blow whistle on top de South African Arms Deal.

Then insyd 2003, De Lille use de floor crossing window break away from PAC, then form her own party wey be de Independent Democrats.

## Issues

### Arms Deal
De Lille be de one wey lead de call make dem investigate de alleged corruption wey dey South Africa demma purchase of weapons wey cost £4bn from British plus other European manufacturers (wey de cost later rise based on de collapse of foreign currencies, even though de Rand to £ and Rand to $ exchange rate later make de cost come almost reach de original level again). But de government reject De Lille ein calls make dem do one independent inquiry under Judge Willem Heath. De Lille talk say dem accuse her say she no dey patriotic plus say she dey disgrace de country all because she dey try investigate de Arms Deal.

Then on 5 April 2009, de Independent Democrats confirm say De Lille go attend de National Prosecuting Authority ein announcement de next day about demma decision whether dem go drop or continue demma case against ANC President Jacob Zuma, wey dem link am to de Arms Deal. For one opinion piece wey she write inside *The Sunday Times*, De Lille predict say dem go drop de charges:I dey vex? Of course I dey vex. I dey vex because most of our people no dey see de warning signs wey dey come from de ANC, one liberation party wey no get respect for de Constitution plus de rule of law, and dem ready to destroy both just so say one man fit become leader for our country.As we dey allow dis ANC crooks make dem go free, we dey send de wrong message give our people. Government dey talk say people fit get way out if dem break de law.Then for de morning wey de NPA ein long-awaited announcement come, dem no allow De Lille enter de proceedings, dem tell am say as she be ordinary member of de public, she for go look for television watch am. Dem do de same thing to de Democratic Alliance ein leader Helen Zille.

## Awards den recognition
De Lille get award from de City of Birmingham, Alabama, wey dem call Freedom of de City. Then for 2004, dem give am honour say she be one of de Top 5 Women for Government plus Government Agencies. She still win de 2004 Old Mutual South African Leadership Award under de Woman Leadership Category.

Dem vote De Lille as number 22 for de Top 100 Great South Africans, plus she popular for how she take push investigations into de country ein controversial Arms Deal.

Insyd July 2006, she become de first woman wey dem recognise as Honorary Colonel for 84 Signal Unit insyd de South African National Defence Force. Then for August 2006, she win de City Press plus Rapport Newspaper award as one of de top 10 women for South Africa.

One Markinor survey wey dem do for 2004 show say De Lille na South Africa ein favourite politician after Thabo Mbeki.

## Joining de DA
On 13 August 2010, afta meeting wey happen between de DA plus ID executive dem, dem decide say de ID go merge join de DA. Then on 15 August 2010, De Lille and DA Leader Helen Zille announce am give de public say de ID go join de DA.

## Controversies
During de 2004 general election, some former members of de Independent Democrats wey no dey happy accuse De Lille say she dey run de party in one "undemocratic" way – which dey different from de image of transparency plus accountability wey she take build de party. De Lille talk give reporters say de people wey dey complain na people dem sack from de party for fraud plus corruption.

As Mayor of Cape Town, people see say De Lille fit get conflict of interest about some private sector developments wey involve ein friends for Clifton. One businessman, Anthony Faul, accuse De Lille say she demand R5 million bribe so she go fit secure procurement contract to supply fire extinguishers insyd 2013.

## Party infighting den resignation as Mayor of Cape Town
Insyd September 2017, De Lille make one controversial decision wey order make dem close de City of Cape Town ein special investigations unit, even though de city's committee member for safety, security plus social services, Jean-Pierre Smith, no agree. Dis closure bring allegations say De Lille take public money benefit for security upgrades wey dem do for ein house. But de auditor-general investigate de matter and clear am from wrongdoing.

After dem close de unit plus de working relationship between De Lille and Smith spoil, de Democratic Alliance charge De Lille say she do misconduct based on allegations of intimidation, criminal acts plus misconduct.

On 15 February 2018, she survive vote of no confidence by just one vote (110 vote no, 109 vote yes and 3 abstain). After dis vote, DA caucus for de City of Cape Town do internal vote on 25 April 2018. Majority of de DA councillors vote make dem remove De Lille as mayor.

On 8 May 2018, de Democratic Alliance (DA) ein Federal Executive end Patricia De Lille ein membership. De chairperson, James Selfe, talk say dem terminate am after De Lille talk for Radio 702 interview with Eusebius McKaiser say she go resign after she clear ein name. Dis expulsion mean say she no fit remain as Cape Town mayor again. But de Western Cape High Court suspend de removal small time, plus dem hear arguments on de matter from 4 to 5 June 2018.

Meanwhile, on 31 May 2018, Cape Town City Council vote make dem strip De Lille from ein executive powers. Then, on 27 June 2018, de Western Cape High Court unanimously rule say make dem reinstate De Lille ein party membership, say de DA no follow dem own constitution properly when dem remove am. In July 2018, dem plan no confidence vote against am but later cancel am.

Then on 5 August 2018, DA ein National Leader, Mmusi Maimane, announce say dem reach "mutual agreement" with De Lille. De agreement be say she go resign as Cape Town mayor, and de party go drop all internal charges against am. She go still remain DA member. Dis announcement come one day before dem disciplinary hearing start.

Insyd September 2018, DA announce say Dan Plato go replace De Lille. She finally leave office on 31 October 2018, plus she resign from de DA too.

## Leader of Good den national government
Wen De Lille resign as Cape Town ein Mayor, she talk say she go take two weeks break from public life make she write ein book plus take time evaluate ein options. People bin dey suspect say she fit revive ein old party, de Independent Democrats, or she go join African National Congress (ANC) or Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).

But on 18 November 2018, De Lille launch political movement plus website wey she call "For Good." For de event top, she announce say she go form new political party.

Then on 2 December 2018, she announce de formation of new political party wey she call *Good*. Some other former Democratic Alliance members wey no dey happy again with de party, like Brett Herron and Shaun August, follow dey present for de event. She talk say de party don register with de Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) and dem go contest de 2019 general election.

De Lille come get announcement as de *Good* Party ein candidate for Western Cape Premier on 10 February 2019. On 16 February 2019, she launch de “Aunty Pat for Premier Campaign” officially for Wesbank near Delft, outside Cape Town.

Afta de May 2019 general elections, De Lille swear in as Member of Parliament for South Africa ein National Assembly, plus President Cyril Ramaphosa appoint am as Minister of Public Works plus Infrastructure.

Wen dem reshuffle de cabinet for March 2023, President Ramaphosa move am go Ministry of Tourism, make she serve as de new Minister.

Insyd de 2024 general election, *Good* win only one seat for Parliament (National Assembly), and na Patricia De Lille be de only elected MP for de party.

Then insyd June 2024, *Good* party agree make dem join de ANC-led Government of National Unity (GNU). As de leader of *Good*, Patricia De Lille still maintain ein position as Tourism Minister under de coalition government.

## Ein life matter
De Lille ein husband, Edwin, die after a long illness on 7 February 2021. They be married for 49 years den have one son, Allistair.

## References


## External links

* City Mayors' Mayor of the Month for May 2013