GARETH VAN ONSELEN: The DA’s worrying censorship of de Lille
Telling Cape Town’s mayor not to talk to her city, or the public at large, is a political gag order
In an article on the Daily Maverick on Monday (Analysis: Facing factionalism, scandal and a water crisis, is the DA becoming an ANC-lite?), documenting the DA’s various problems in Cape Town and the Western Cape, Rebecca Davis wrote that she had contacted the office of Cape Town mayor Patricia de Lille to clarify some issues surrounding the contested upgrades to the mayor’s private residence.As mayor, Patricia de Lille represents all citizens of Cape Town, not just the DA. Government business is public business, and the DA cannot shut down de Lille’s communication on the issue in her official capacity. This is exactly where the line between and party and state is drawn. It is tough on the DA, which no doubt and understandably wants to control the situation; de Lille could well use her office to drive her narrative. That, however, is the price you pay for living in a constitutional democracy. Perhaps the DA is still smarting from the Helen Zille affair, where Zille used her position ...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.