Premier criticised for ‘misleading’ speech

THE ANC in the Western Cape has accused outgoing Premier Helen Zille of misleading the public when she delivered her last State of the Province address (Sopa).

“She misled the public when delivering her speech because the speech contained so many discrepancies. She was speaking about more than 200000 housing opportunities but we listened to residents from Ruyterwacht, Scottsdene and all people from all various areas explaining why they have not received their houses and why they are being evicted,” said ANC Western Cape elections leader Ebrahim Rasool.

He said the speech Zille delivered lacked vision for the Western Cape. “She tried to make as if the whole Anti -Gang Unit was their idea when we all know it wasn’t,” he said.

The ANC Provincial Executive Committee head of communications Lionel Adendorf said: “She did not tell us what the government is planning on doing in the next five years and the reason for that is because the party has not finalised its manifesto.”

Zille’s last Sopa was marred last week by a protest outside the legislature and heckles from the ANC inside the legislature. Zille is expected to face tough questions during the debate of her Sopa which is scheduled for tomorrow.

The ANC also questioned her focus on past achievements during her speech. Zille detailed the work her administration has done in the province during the past 10 years. Before the second half of her speech, the ANC stormed out of the legislature. Zille praised the clean audits since the DA took office in 2009.

An investigation will be launched into two ANC MPLs – Trudy Dijana and Nobulumko Nkondlo, who allegedly accosted Zille’s husband, Professor Johann Maree, who was sitting scribbling in a notebook in the box for the premier’s guests.

Legislature Speaker Sharna Fernandez told members after the MPLs walked out: “I will check the Hansard and I will investigate the matter. I did not see that.”

DA chief whip Mark Wiley said: “The staged walk out of Premier Helen Zille’s State of the Province address by Western Cape ANC members is an act of calculated political delinquency which flouted democratic processes and is a slap in the face to the majority of the voters in this province who have voted overwhelmingly in favour of a DA-led government for over a decade.” |