Patricia de Lille facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Patricia de Lille
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Minister of Tourism | |
| Assumed office 6 March 2023 |
|
| President | Cyril Ramaphosa |
| Deputy | Fish Mahlalela Maggie Sotyu |
| Preceded by | Lindiwe Sisulu |
| Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure | |
| In office 30 May 2019 – 6 March 2023 |
|
| President | Cyril Ramaphosa |
| Deputy | Noxolo Kiviet |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Sihle Zikalala |
| Leader of Good | |
| Assumed office 2 December 2018 |
|
| Preceded by | Party founded |
| Member of the National Assembly of South Africa | |
| Assumed office 22 May 2019 |
|
| In office 10 May 1994 – 10 September 2010 |
|
| Mayor of Cape Town | |
| In office 1 June 2011 – 31 October 2018 Mayorship suspended: 8–15 May 2018 |
|
| Deputy | Ian Neilson |
| Preceded by | Dan Plato |
| Succeeded by | Ian Neilson (acting) Dan Plato |
| Western Cape Provincial Minister of Social Development | |
| In office 22 September 2010 – 31 May 2011 |
|
| Premier | Helen Zille |
| Preceded by | Ivan Meyer |
| Succeeded by | Albert Fritz |
| Leader of the Independent Democrats | |
| In office 21 June 2003 – 21 May 2014 |
|
| Preceded by | Party founded |
| Succeeded by | Party merged into Democratic Alliance |
| Member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament | |
| In office 22 September 2010 – 31 May 2011 |
|
| Provincial Leader of the Democratic Alliance in the Western Cape |
|
| In office 18 April 2015 – 1 February 2017 |
|
| Deputy | Bonginkosi Madikizela |
| Preceded by | Ivan Meyer |
| Succeeded by | Bonginkosi Madikizela |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Patricia Lindt
17 February 1951 Beaufort West, Cape Province, Union of South Africa |
| Political party | Good (2018–present) |
| Other political affiliations |
|
| Spouse |
Edwin de Lille
(m. 1972; died 2021) |
| Relations | Sarah Paulse (sister) |
| Children | 1 |
| Occupation |
|
| Profession | Chemical technologist |
Patricia de Lille (born 17 February 1951) is a well-known South African politician. She is currently the Minister of Tourism and leads her own political party called Good.
Before her current role, she served as the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure from 2019 to 2023. She was also the Mayor of Cape Town from 2011 to 2018. She started her own political party, the Independent Democrats (ID), in 2003. This party later joined the Democratic Alliance (DA) in 2010.
Patricia de Lille is known for her efforts to ensure fairness and transparency in government. She was voted among the Top 100 Great South Africans.
Contents
Early Life and Career
Patricia de Lille was born in 1951 in Beaufort West, a town in South Africa. She went to Bastiaanse Hoërskool. In 1974, she started working as a laboratory technician at a factory. She worked there until 1990.
During her time at the factory, she became very active in the South African Chemical Workers Union. She started as a shop steward, which is a representative for workers. Later, she became a regional secretary and then a National Executive Member in 1983. In 1988, she was chosen as the National Vice-President of The National Council of Trade Unions (NACTU). This was the highest position a woman had held in the trade union movement at that time.
Political Journey
Starting in Politics
In 1989, Patricia de Lille was elected to the National Executive Committee of the Pan Africanist Movement (PAM). She played an important role in the talks that led to South Africa's first democratic election in 1994.
After being elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC), she became the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Transport from 1994 to 1999. She also worked on other important committees, including Health, Minerals and Energy, and Communications.
Promoting Transparency
Patricia de Lille is known for speaking out on important issues. She used her position in Parliament to highlight concerns about a large government deal to buy weapons. She pushed for investigations to ensure everything was done fairly and openly. Her actions showed her commitment to transparency and accountability in government.
Forming the Independent Democrats
In 2003, Patricia de Lille decided to leave the PAC and start her own political party. She named it the Independent Democrats. This party aimed to offer a new choice for voters.
Awards and Special Recognition
Patricia de Lille has received many awards for her work. She was given the Freedom of the City of Birmingham, Alabama, in the United States. In 2004, she was recognised as one of the Top 5 Women in Government and Government Agencies. She also received the 2004 Old Mutual South African Leadership Award for Woman Leadership.
She was voted 22nd in the Top 100 Great South Africans. This shows how much people respect her contributions to the country.
In July 2006, she became the first woman to be named Honorary Colonel of 84 Signal Unit in the South African National Defence Force. In August 2006, she was recognised by City Press and Rapport Newspaper as one of the top 10 women in South Africa. A survey in 2004 found that she was South Africa's favourite politician after Thabo Mbeki.
Joining the Democratic Alliance
In August 2010, the Independent Democrats (ID) decided to join forces with the Democratic Alliance (DA). Patricia de Lille and the DA Leader, Helen Zille, announced this merger to the public. The ID officially became part of the DA in 2014.
Serving as Mayor of Cape Town
Patricia de Lille was chosen as the DA's candidate for Mayor of Cape Town. She won the election in 2011 and became the Mayor of Cape Town. She was re-elected for a second term in 2016.
During her time as mayor, there were some disagreements within the DA party. These challenges led to her deciding to resign as Mayor of Cape Town. She officially left her position on 31 October 2018 and also left the Democratic Alliance.
Leading the Good Party and National Government Role
Forming a New Party
After resigning as mayor, Patricia de Lille decided to start a new political movement. On 2 December 2018, she announced the formation of her new political party, named Good. Other politicians who had also left the Democratic Alliance joined her. The Good party was registered to take part in the 2019 general election.
Return to National Government
In February 2019, Patricia de Lille was announced as the Good Party's candidate for Premier of the Western Cape. After the May 2019 general elections, she was sworn in as a Member of the National Assembly of South Africa.
On 29 May 2019, President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed her as the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure. In March 2023, she was appointed as the Minister of Tourism and was reappointed to this role in June 2024.
In the 2024 general election, the Good party won one seat in Parliament, and Patricia de Lille was the only elected MP for her party. In June 2024, the Good party agreed to join the government of national unity led by the ANC.
Personal Life
Patricia de Lille was married to Edwin de Lille for 49 years. They had one son named Allistair. Sadly, Edwin passed away on 7 February 2021 after a long illness.
Images for kids
-
Patricia de Lille at the Nelson Mandela memorial concert in 2013.
See also
In Spanish: Patricia de Lille para niños
