De Lille resigns as Western Cape DA leader
Patricia de Lille has stepped down as the leader of the DA in the Western Cape to focus on running Cape Town as Mayor.
De Lille addressed her resignation letter to party leader Mmusi Maimane, stating her exit from office will be effective from Wednesday, February 1.
She says she met with Maimane, who has since supported her move, this past week to discuss the decision.
"I also agreed to continue to assist other DA governments, so that they can establish the same excellent delivery record as the City of Cape Town," she said.
Whilst the statement states taking Cape Town to the next level of government will require time, hence the resignation.
"As we position the party to be the next national government, I believe that those of us in government and other spheres have a duty to build the party’s experience in, and capacity for, public management in preparation for effective custodianship of the state," she said in the statement.
I've resigned as @Our_DA Western Cape leader. Thank you to all DA leaders, staff, activists and volunteers. My resignation letter: pic.twitter.com/arNYfwgj03
— Patricia de Lille (@PatriciaDeLille) January 30, 2017
LISTEN to the full bulletin below -