NATIONAL NEWS - Cape Town mayor Patricia de Lille had to “inform her superiors in the DA” before attending Winnie Madikizela-Mandela’s funeral on Saturday, after her appearance at an EFF memorial for the matriarch in Brandfort landed her in hot water last week.

De Lille said she was surprised the party took issue with her attendance at the EFF event and that she first heard of it on the news.

In e-mail correspondence seen by The Citizen, she then contacted DA federal executive chair James Selfe, asking for clarity on the issue.

“It has come to my attention through various media reports that you would like an explanation from me as to why I did not inform the party of my attendance at the EFF memorial in honour of the late Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.

“I also note that there has been no official correspondence sent to me on this matter. In addition, I find it wholly inappropriate that this is being made a side issue while the country is in mourning,” De Lille wrote.

“It is City of Cape Town’s protocol for me to inform the deputy mayor and mayoral committee when I leave the municipal boundaries, which I complied with. I have never had to notify the party if I leave the boundaries of the city. If this is the case, send me the policy regarding this protocol.

Read more on the Caxton publication, The Citizen.