Patricia de Lille

Who is Patricia de Lille?

Patricia de Lille is a South African politician and Mayor of Cape Town. She was the founder and the leader of the Independent Democrats, a South African political party which she formed in 2003 during a floor-crossing window. On 15 August 2010, the ID merged with the Democratic Alliance, South Africa's official opposition, and de Lille took on dual party membership until her party was fully dissolved in May 2014.

On 14 March 2011, De Lille beat Grant Pascoe, Shehaam Sims and incumbent Dan Plato to become the DA's mayoral candidate in Cape Town, ahead of the 2011 local government elections. She was declared the mayor-elect by the IEC on 20 May 2011.

De Lille was voted 22nd in the Top 100 Great South Africans, and is noted for her role in investigations into the country's controversial Arms Deal.