ANC member statements in the Western Cape provincial legislature today, March 22 2012
Statement 1
Ms Lynne Brown (ANC - leader of the opposition)
The DA leader has again inflicted herself with foot in mouth disease on Twitter.
If she does not call a singer a professional black, she builds schools for so-called refugees from the Eastern Cape.
Premier Helen Zille in government needs to act responsibly towards all South African citizens in the province and in the country. She operates in opposition mode all the time, and that is very dangerous! She attacks anybody and anything perceived to be of the ANC! She should try to build and edify people, instead of retorting with put downs and demeaning terms.
It was only 2 weeks ago that she coined the phrase: Better Together. Since then, we have just seen division, destruction and mayhem. The WC needs a Premier that knows how to lead and unite.
Apartheid influx control was lifted in 1994 and no citizen can be called a refugee. We're a unitary state: SA belongs to all who live in it.
Globally, refugees are people who flee in the face of fear and persecution from their countries of birth. These people she refers to are not refugees, but South Africans making intelligent choices. They are not a burden or making a nuisance of themselves. People have over years always moved between provinces, especially to Gauteng and the Western Cape. You have done it yourself!
It is not even xenophobic; it is Afrophobic attitude of the DA is to blame.
Zille claims these so-called refugees run from poor education in the Eastern Cape, yet she denies the same citizens their Constitutional rights here - binding this legislature and executive - to freedom of movement, to reside anywhere in Republic of South Africa, association, dignity and equality.
Zille must retract her labelling and apologise!
Statement 2
Mr Patrick McKenzie (ANC MPL)
Premier Helen Zille must fire community safety MEC Dan Plato as he is on the wrong side of the victims and community who suffer under crime.
Plato is not fit to be a MEC in this province as he has no credibility left among citizens and communities.
MEC Plato is seen more on the side of drug and gang lords. He meets gangsters, while people are killed by gangsters.
Now his ministry, including this DA-led Western Cape provincial government is once more rocked by another drug scandal. Police found various drugs, tik, dagga and heroin in his PA's house, says warrant officer November Filander of SAPS. Three other suspects already appeared in court after being arrested in the PA's house (see report).
He elects to protect his PA Liezel Jonathan and claims it is a plot against him, denies that drugs were found and now demands a report from SAPS.
It is the very same PA that accompanies him on a public holiday campaign into the Karoo.
Instead of distancing himself from the crime of possession and use of drugs, he comes out guns blazing.
It is reminiscent of another case where a senior drug fighting official one Dave McNamara was busted by the police with drugs in his possession and his MEC tried to run away from it. The official was only suspended after the ANC demanded immediate action!
Now it is time for the DA to be firm, have the PA suspended and duly deal with Plato. He must go! How can he fight drugs if he is involved with drug lords?
Statement 3
Ms Millicent Tingwe (ANC MPL)
The arrogant DA-led government of the Western Cape is failing the children of this province by not dealing with real issues obstructing proper education.
Overcrowding is one such matter as in some schools three and more learners share the same chair. From the Boland to the Metro we see more and more communities angered by education MEC Donald Grants antics to not address issues at schools under pressure, runs away from facing concerned people and to play Santa Claus with bags of gifts at other schools.
We saw learners of Khayelitsha protesting yesterday on Human Rights Day.
The ANC has pointed out some of these problems such as facilities, equipment, educators and learners having difficulty in receiving a proper education.
In the Overberg some communities experience similar problems. Two schools in one area are severely overcrowded. More than double the learners are cramped into the space designed for far less of our children.
MEC Grant claims that he does not have money to build schools and that he cannot get land for new schools. This flies in the face of the fact that there are many underutilised schools in many areas and that Grant has in his term closed down more schools than what he build.
The DA must do some introspection and decide whether MEC Grant should continue to be a liability to his party and this province. He should take the blame for the flare-up due to his refusal to meet the people of Grabouw!
The ANC condemns the destruction of property by vandals.
Issued by the ANC Western Cape, March 22 2012
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