On Monday, 20 August, I received a letter from the ANC Youth League Dullah Omar region requesting that I receive a memorandum they would be delivering to my office on Monday 27 August. I have responded to their letter stating that I will accept their request if they publicly retract their repeated threats to make the city and the province ungovernable and apologise to the people of the Western Cape for the subsequent violent protests. The letter from the ANC Youth League and my response to them follow below.
I always try to be available to meet with communities who have grievances about service delivery. However, I refuse to engage on the basis of threats, intimidation and violence including the destruction of the public property. This would be tantamount to endorsing the erosion of our constitution and the rule of law.
Letter from the ANCYL Dullah Omar Region to Western Cape Premier Helen Zille, August 20 2012:
ANCYL DULLAH OMAR REGION SECRETARIAT OFFICE
20 August 2012
To: Ms Helen Zille
The Premier of the Western Cape
From: ANCYL Dullah Omar Region
Re: Handover of the memorandum
The African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) Dullah Omar region will be marching on Monday, 27 August 2012 to the Premier of the Western Cape Ms Helen Zille to handover the memorandum of demands. We request the Premier to receive the memorandum by herself and please not send us staff personnel. This march follows the massive march the ANCYL had on the 27 July 2012, where the Premier was unable to come and receive the memorandum.
The memorandum will be delivered at the Provincial Legislature at 13h00. The ANCYL with its other stakeholders will be bringing 10 000 people to handover the memorandum We trust that the Premier will honour our request ; k indly confirm availability with the ANCYL regional secretary Mfuzo Zenzile .
Yours in pursuit for economic freedom in our lifetime.
Cde Mfuzo Zenzile
Regional Secretary
Response by Western Cape Premier Helen Zille, August 23 2012:
Dear Mr Zenzile
Your letter dated 20 August 2012 has reference.
In it you request me to receive a memorandum from the ANCYL and its stakeholders outside the provincial legislature on Monday, 27 August.
I will accept your request if you publicly retract your repeated threats to make the city and the province ungovernable and apologise to the people of the Western Cape for the subsequent violent protests, which resulted in the tragic deaths of four people, numerous injuries and the destruction of public property.
Mayor Patricia de Lille and I have laid a criminal complaint with the SAPS against the ANCYL in relation to these threats, which the police are currently investigating. Accepting your memorandum on Monday, would be tantamount to condoning these threats and the violent protests that have followed during the last four weeks.
If the ANCYL accedes to my request for a public retraction and apology, I will be willing to engage with you in a constructive manner on issues and concerns that are relevant to the Western Cape Government's service delivery mandate.
I always try to be available to meet with communities who have grievances about service delivery. However, I refuse to engage on the basis of threats, intimidation and violence including the destruction of public property. This would be tantamount to endorsing the erosion of our constitution and the rule of law.
Yours sincerely
PREMIER
(HELEN ZILLE)
Issued by Western Cape Premier Helen Zille, August 23 2012
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