Put the people first

THE fact that DA leader Mmusi Maimane says he has taken the “unprecedented step” of assuming political control over the local and provincial government’s response to the drought in the Western Cape is telling.

It confirms that both arms of government ignored the interests of the citizens of Cape Town in their response to the water shortage in the city, and in the distinct possibility of taps running dry.

It confirms that, as the crisis grew, a turf war was being waged between the City and the province – and that Cape Town’s executive mayor, Patricia de Lille, lost this war and was thus made the scapegoat of a botch-up of monumental proportions.

Premier Helen Zille says the province has a plan – and, in fact, has had one for long time.

If this is true, and we have no reason to disbelieve her, why did she not share it with the City? Why did they not work together, with De Lille, the citizens of Cape Town and the rest of the province.

We believe – in fact, we know – the reason for this is that they have fallen out. We do not expect this from our public representatives.

Our city is facing a crisis in which we expect all communities to pull their weight, irrespective of their political persuasions. We cannot have politicians – from the same political party – to be involved in ego-fuelled spats.

As residents of Cape Town, let us not whoop for joy over Maimane’s declaration to take over political control.

First of all, what does he mean? He needs to spell it out in simple language. Not in politician-speak.

Secondly, much of what he said during his address about the crisis at the Joseph Stone Auditorium in Athlone yesterday sounded like a pep talk for his own party.

This looming catastrophe should be tackled in a non-partisan way.

Worrying too about Maimane’s speech was his many references to “defeating Day Zero”. If the information that has been disseminated is correct, Day Zero will come, whether on April 21, April 12 or March 24.

Pushing Day Zero back a month would not be a victory.

What the residents of this city need to know is the whole plan, how it will be implemented, and what the City and province will do to ensure that nothing goes wrong.