The Democratic Alliance has confirmed the cessation of embattled Cape Town Mayor Patricia de Lille's membership from the party, during a briefing addressing the ongoing saga between De Lille and the party.

UDM leader Bantu Holomisa weighs in.

LIVE: DA confirms cessation of Cape Town Mayor Patricia de Lille's membership After a long sustained dirty tricks campaign they pulled plug
— Bantu Holomisa (@BantuHolomisa) May 8, 2018

#DA confirms that deputy mayor Ian Nielson will take over immediately as acting mayor. The City of Cape Town council will elect a new mayor "as soon as possible," the party says. Council must elect a new mayor within 14 days. #DeLille @TeamNews24
— Paul Herman (@PaulHermanCPT) May 8, 2018

The DA's official statement on the matter.

We have a commitment to deal with maladministration & misconduct. No matter who is implicated.

Our priority now is to restore stability to City govt so that we can continue to provide excellent and responsive services to the people of the City. #deLille https://t.co/pHjM9w0Yxp
— Democratic Alliance (@Our_DA) May 8, 2018

The #DA's James Selfe says he would like to think that the issue ends today, "but he doubts it". "I anticipate that there will be some sort of challenge, and we are prepared to meet that challenge." #DeLille @TeamNews24
— Paul Herman (@PaulHermanCPT) May 8, 2018

The DA reiterates their reasons for terminating De Lille's membership.

The DA Constitution provides, in section 3.5.1.2 that:

“A member ceases to be a member when he or she

3.5.1.2 publicly declares his or her intention to resign and/or publicly declares his or her resignation from the Party;” #delille pic.twitter.com/HUWt5LcaDQ
— Democratic Alliance (@Our_DA) May 8, 2018

The DA cites a Radio 702 interview with Patricia de Lille.

In the meanwhile, Ms #DeLille
took part in a radio interview with Eusebius McKaiser on Radio 702 on 26 April 2018.

In the course of this interview, Ms de Lille on two occasions indicated that she intended to resign from the DA.

See the conversation below: pic.twitter.com/WvE2a3ga88
— Democratic Alliance (@Our_DA) May 8, 2018

Reasons the DA has lost confidence in Patricia de Lille, as explained by the party.

These are the reasons the DA has lost confidence in Patricia #deLille. pic.twitter.com/utLWt200jJ
— Democratic Alliance (@Our_DA) May 8, 2018

"A member ceases to be a member when he or she publicly declares intention to resign..."

The exact clause in the #DA's Constitution 3.5.1.2 around #DeLille's membership: "A member ceases to be a member when he or she publicly declares his or her intention to resign and/or publicly declares his or her resignation from the party." @TeamNews24
— Paul Herman (@PaulHermanCPT) May 8, 2018

Mazzone also addresses the fake AG report that was spread on social media. She said they will follow police processes regarding the #DA members who shared it. She repeats that the document was not used in any DA processes. #DeLille @TeamNews24
— Paul Herman (@PaulHermanCPT) May 8, 2018

#DA's Natasha Mazzone explains that in an interview with @Eusebius, #DeLille expressed her desire to "walk away". The DA's federal legal commission confirmed that De Lille's ceasation is in line with party constitution clause 3.5.1.2. @TeamNews24
— Paul Herman (@PaulHermanCPT) May 8, 2018

#DA council chair James Selfe explains that according to the DA's constitution, if a member publicly declares their intention to resign from the party, their membership ceases. Selfe said #DeLille did this in an interview on April 26 on @Radio702. @TeamNews24
— Paul Herman (@PaulHermanCPT) May 8, 2018

BREAKING: The #DA has confirmed the cessation of Cape Town mayor Patrica #DeLille's membership from the party....1/2 @TeamNews24
— Paul Herman (@PaulHermanCPT) May 8, 2018

#DA spokesperson Refiloe Ntsekhe, federal council chairperson James Selfe, and council chair deputies Thomas Walters and Natasha Mazzone present to explain the party's decision on Cape Town mayor Patrica #DeLille. @TeamNews24
— Paul Herman (@PaulHermanCPT) May 8, 2018

#DA federal executive members are now explaining the events leading up to the imminent announcement on Cape Town mayor Patricia #DeLille's future at the party's offices in Cape Town today. @TeamNews24
— Paul Herman (@PaulHermanCPT) May 8, 2018

After inviting Mayor #deLille to provide an account of these matters, decided on 14 January this year to charge her with misconduct.
— Democratic Alliance (@Our_DA) May 8, 2018

The Steenhuisen sub-committee came to the conclusion that there were matters that pointed to prima facie misconduct in terms of the DA Constitution, as well as other matters that required further investigation. #deLille
— Democratic Alliance (@Our_DA) May 8, 2018

Confronted with this, we appointed a sub-committee of the FedEx, under the chairpersonship of John Steenhuisen, to look into these matters. At roughly the same time, the City itself appointed the law firm Bowman Gillfillan to investigate allegations of maladministration. #deLille
— Democratic Alliance (@Our_DA) May 8, 2018

In the latter part of 2017, the DA leadership became aware of problems in its representatives in the City of Cape Town. This resulted from both tensions in the caucus as well as allegations of maladministration involving senior politicians and officials in the City. #deLille
— Democratic Alliance (@Our_DA) May 8, 2018

When it was legally permissible to do so- the party has sought to be as transparent as possible as to what led to the disciplinary matter between Ms #deLille and the party.
— Democratic Alliance (@Our_DA) May 8, 2018

It is no secret that the DA has suffered immeasurable damage because of this issue due to the lack of information presented to our voters. #deLille
— Democratic Alliance (@Our_DA) May 8, 2018

"The party is deeply concerned about the impact this has had on the residents of Cape Town – the people we serve – and the general public." - @Natasha9Mazzone #deLille
— Democratic Alliance (@Our_DA) May 8, 2018

The DA would like to provide feedback to the residents of Cape Town and the people of South Africa regarding the matter between the Party and Mayor Patricia #deLille.
— Democratic Alliance (@Our_DA) May 8, 2018

At 09h00 today, the Chairperson of the DA’s Federal Executive, @JAMESSELFE3, Deputy Chairpersons of Federal Council, @Natasha9Mazzone & @Waltersda & DA National Spokesperson, @RefiloeNtsekhe, will brief the media on the next steps regarding the Patricia de Lille matter.
— Democratic Alliance (@Our_DA) May 8, 2018

Senior leaders in the DA are briefing the media on the party’s next steps regarding the future of embattled Cape Town Mayor Patricia de Lille.

James Selfe, chairperson of the DA's federal executive, deputy chairpersons of the federal executive Natasha Mazzone and Thomas Walters, and national spokesperson Refiloe Nt'sekhe are in attendance.

This comes after it emerged on Monday that senior DA members had shared a fake Auditor General report about De Lille on social media, in which claims were made against her.

News24 confirmed that the document, shared by at least two DA members of Parliament on social media, was a forgery.

The DA members include deputy chief whip Mike Waters, who is also a deputy federal chairperson of the party, and National Council of Provinces MP Bronwynn Engelbrecht.

Mazzone later said the purported document was in no way used by the party in its disciplinary processes against De Lille.

AS IT HAPPENED: DA confirms cessation of Cape Town Mayor Patricia de Lille's membership