Victory to ANC in standoff with DA

Premier Helen Zille was forced today to unreservedly withdraw a clear ‘unparliamentary' (illegal or unpermitted) allegation in the Western Cape provincial legislature.

On Tuesday the ANC walked out in protest of Zille's flagrant undermining of the authority of the speaker and her refusal to withdraw her charge that ANC leader of the opposition Marius Fransman told a ‘complete and deliberate untruth' (lied).

Zille today had to bite the bullet and eat humble pie. She withdrew her utterance and immediately left the chamber.

The proceeding was adjourned and after more than an hour standoff, the DA caved in to ANC demands to suspend newly invented and unreasonable rulings against two of its members until next year, have an independent review of these rulings and that a high court judge will head that review.

ANC Western Cape chief whip Pierre Uys says: "The ANC is convinced that the DA wants to use the legislature and fundamentally abuse its rules to sensor, gag and silence the ANC on issues that are of national importance, in legislation (BBBEE & Employment Equity) and the reality in documents of this provincial government. The DA wants to ban all references to race in order to window dress the reality that this government entrenches and institutionalise racism."

The ANC says what Zille did was wrong. She undermined our democracy. The ANC had to put its foot down. Matters were taken too far by the DA to score cheap party political points.

"Zille went against her own party and our parliamentary democratic ethos. Overall it was a good day for the ANC! The ANC will now follow the process of the review and will abide by the outcome as presided over by a judge. The ANC fought for our rights and will not be bullied by an autocratic behaving premier.

"The ANC believes Zille is a liability to the legislature and her party. When she walks into the chamber, things become unruly; she disregards the rules, dishonours the assembly and as party leader puts the presiding officer under undue pressure to follow her lead. The ANC hopes this was the last time the premier overplays her hand in the legislature and abuse the office of the speaker," Uys added.

Statement issued by Pierre Uys, ANC Western Cape Chief Whip, December 4 2014

Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter