ANC STATEMENT ON THE RESIGNATION OF CAPE TOWN MAYOR

The ANC has taken note of the resignation of Alderman, Ms Patricia de Lille from office of Executive Mayor of the City of Cape Town and wish her well in her future endeavours.

The back and forth public fights between Ms DeLille and the national leadership of the Democracy Alliance (DA) over the past year have destabilised the functioning of city council business. Our poor masses who have been experiencing service delivery shortfalls, catastrophic water management and greater inequality are unfortunately at the receiving end of the implosion of the DA.

The ANC further notes with grave concern the prevailing issues of distractive and destructive race based internal turmoil confronting the political management of the Metro and the Democratic Alliance and call on all parties to exercise due caution and work to bring people together and eradicate racial discrimination and exclusion as reported and experienced by many within the council leadership and people of Cape Town.

The ANC will not be backing down on its 54th national conference resolution; that local government should serve as a catalyst towards achieving a better life for all.

We call on all South Africans to remain true to nation building beyond sloganeering and electioneering. All people must feel welcome and feel a part of all parts of South Africa including the Western Cape and Cape Town in particular. Our constitution guarantees a South Africa free from racism, discrimination or exclusion. The embattled official opposition has continuously failed to subscribed to these key pillars of social cohesion and remain exposed and allegedly continue to have a supremacists grouping who continue run the party behind exclusion doors.

The ANC encourages the Metro to take leaf from the National Government's call to root out political corruption and that public funds must be utilised prudently in the service of all our people and not used to fight frivolous inter-part squabbles as seen in Cape Town. Organs of state including Metro Police should not be weaponised in political factions within any party entrusted with state resources; police resources must be for all people, equitably.

We call on all South Africans to remain true to nation building beyond sloganeering and electioneering. All people must feel welcome and feel a part of all parts of South Africa including the Western Cape and Cape Town in particular. Our constitution guarantees a South Africa free from racism, discrimination or exclusion. The embattled official opposition has continuously failed to subscribed to these key pillars of social cohesion and remain exposed and allegedly continue to have a supremacists grouping who continue run the party behind exclusion doors.

The ANC encourages the Metro to take leaf from the National Government's call to root out political corruption and that public funds must be utilised prudently in the service of all our people and not used to fight frivolous inter-part squabbles as seen in Cape Town. Organs of state including Metro Police should not be weaponised in political factions within any party entrusted with state resources; police resources must be for all people, equitably.

The 54th National Conference declared war on corruption at all levels. We therefore call on law enforcement agencies to investigate allegations of large-scale corruption within the City of Cape Town. Good Governance and protection of the public purse from any form of manipulation and abuse must become a way of life regardless of who is charge - Our people deserve better. The ANC calls on all parties to assure a seamless transition of the leadership of the Metropolitan council and that the people and visitors of Cape Town are put first during the transition to the new Mayor.

We take this opportunity to congratulate the announced Mayor-elect Mr Dan Plato and wish him success in the service of our people as a whole irrespective of race, creed, gender or religion. We will be closely watching if his leadership represents a new era for the city of Cape Town or just a continuation and entrenchment of racism and inequality amongst the people.

Statement issued by ANC, 31 October 2018