Response to the Western Cape premier's address at the official opening of the legislature by the Leader of the Opposition Lynne Brown (ANC MPL), Cape Town, February 22 2013
Zille disappoints with stale provincial address
It is outrageous that the premier of the Western Cape today tried to offset the horrific rape and killing of women scourge in the province with references to a coffee enterprise and other incomparable economic ventures - however deserving they may be! The ANC nevertheless always welcomes economic development, but not as a veil to gloss over other realities, says leader of the opposition Lynne Brown.
Her approach echo that of her MEC's that also seeks to place too much blame and emphasis on other factors. It is such nonsense, as we all know rape and murder predates miniskirts, tik (drugs) or other reasons now cited to be blamed for the heinous crimes. Behaviour change, respect and education received too little attention in this crime, but she at length preached about sex behaviour change to curb the spread of HIV & Aids!
She still tried to justify her stance on agriculture, but failed to mention the tragedy that three workers died in the farm uprising in this province.
It is sad that she continued her refugee fixation, euphemised as in migration and workers from other countries converging on this province. - As if it is the only province that has to deal with urbanisation and human resettlement!
Her idea of land reform is misplaced as it focusses too much on share schemes that do not change real ownership, decision-making or conditions for beneficiaries from designated groups. Too many schemes failed.
Rural people is still not much of a priority to her as she bragged about Clicks (mostly available in urban and big centres) providing vaccinations to residents and a rollout of health services in the metro area.
What is worst is that she at length talked and talked on education, but overlooked the elephant in the room: Her government's arbitrary closure of twenty poor schools!
She boasted too much with old and known projects, like the Khayelitsha hospital. But she was silent on the pathetic poor performance and track record on housing in the Western Cape under her watch where even reduced targets are not met and sanitation problems plague the poor.
Clearly Zille has no plan to address social ills and her patronising attitude does little to change the perception that the DA does not care for the poor or their plight.
Overall the province still lacks critical leadership that responds to the very issues worrying residents and the Western Cape deserves better than a premier seeking refugees behind every bush. It is shocking and disappointing that Zille could not be more responsive on issues distressing the people of the province. Zille also spent too much time on pet (education and economic) and other stale issues.
Issued by the ANC WCape, February 22 2013
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