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‘We are a nation united in our grief’: Helen Zille

Helen Zille, supporting the ANC icon Mandela — Helen Zille

DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE STATEMENT BY HELEN ZILLE LEADER OF THE DA A NATION UNITED IN GRIEF

06 December 2013

Today, South Africa lost the greatest son of its soil. Today the rainbow nation lost its father.

Today, we are a nation united in grief.

It is with deep and profound sadness that we say: Lala ngoxolo Tata. Asoze sikulibale (Rest in peace Tata, we will never forget you).

Our deepest condolences, thoughts and prayers are with Madiba’s wife, Graca, his former wife, Winnie, his daughters Makaziwe, Zenani and Zindziswa, his grandchildren and his great grandchildren.

May they find the strength to overcome the pain of this great loss. And may the entire Mandela family be accorded the respect they deserve at this time. May they be accorded the right to mourn in peace. The nation mourns with them.

We all belong to the South African family – and we owe that sense of belonging to Madiba. That is his legacy. It is why there is an unparalleled outpouring of national grief at his passing. It is commensurate with the contribution he made to our country.

Through his humility, moral conviction and bold leadership, Madiba gave us a gift for which we, and successive generations will be forever grateful. He gave us his vision of a free and inclusive South Africa and the unwavering belief that such a society could be achieved in his lifetime.

He was, quite simply, the greatest South African that ever lived. We shall never see his like again.

Let all South Africans join hands as we mourn Madiba’s passing and celebrate his life. Let us re-affirm his values and recapture his spirit in all we do.

Coloured calling black ‘darkie’ is a very serious offence says DA

A Coloured DA councillor in the City of Cape Town told a black security guard to go back to a black province. He has been found guilty of racism by a city disciplinary committee and now faces expulsion from the council.

Junade Hoosain, councillor for ward 46, told the guard that “Darkies do not belong in Robertson but in the Eastern Cape.” Hoosain is a member of the city’s health portfolio committee.

The ward includes parts of the coloured Manenberg, Penlyn Estate and New Fields. Hoosain allegedly also used the K-word.

The disciplinary committee said: “After 20 years of democracy, a community leader cannot be excused for uttering such terms in whatever context.”

According to the city’s legal department, Mzoxolo Gqowa of Security SA, the company that provides VIP protection to councillors, complained to his employer last year that Hoosain had made the remark to him.

Hoosain had apologised to Gqowa, who had then withdrawn his grievance, but the withdrawal came to the white Speaker’s attention and Dirk Smit asked Hoosain to “respond to the allegations”.

The disciplinary hearing lasted three days. They found Hoosain guilty of using the term “darkies” but could not, “on a balance of probabilities”, find him guilty of using the k-word.

The committee believes saying “darkie” is “an act of racism” and as such should be regarded in a serious light.

About another DA councillor in the City of Cape Town that appeared in the Bellville Magistrate’s Court on charges of defrauding the social grant system, Smit said earlier the 61-year-old “could face disciplinary action”.

Smit said the party would only comment after it had done its “own investigation”.

Michael Toko was accused of drawing an old age pension even though he earns about R30,000 a month as a full-time councillor.

Government regulations stipulate that those applying for the old age pension of R1270 should not earn more than R49,200 a year.

Toko also enjoys travel and a cellphone allowance.

Race matters: DA

DA parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko

Race remains a legitimate measure of disadvantage in South Africa, the DA said on Sunday.

“A non-racial society is a goal — it doesn’t exist today,” Democratic Alliance parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko told journalists, speaking at the end of her party’s federal council meeting in Cape Town.

The event, which ran over three days, was attended by about 150 delegates from around the country.

Mazibuko said the “big thing” to come out of the meeting was “the question of whether or not the DA accepts race as a legitimate proxy for disadvantage”.

“The reality is, we don’t live in a non-racial society… So we had to answer a very big policy question, which is going to underpin every redress policy we have — from social development to land reform, and many others in between.

“The question is: Do we believe that in 2013 race is still a legitimate proxy for disadvantage? And the answer was yes.”

Mazibuko stressed this was not a “permanent proxy” for disadvantage.

“It has a horizon,” she said, adding that this limit would depend on future measurements of how successful black advancement proved to be.

DA leader Helen Zille said the message from the conference could be summarised in three broad messages.

“The first is we support BBBEE [broad-based black economic empowerment] that creates jobs… The second is that black advancement benefits everyone. And the third is we support BBBEE when it is broadbased and productive.”

She said this did not imply the party supported the African National Congress approach to redress.

Zille listed what she called the fundamental principles underpinning the party’s so-called economic inclusion policy, and spelled out why the party rejected racial quotas.

“We reject racial quotas in favour of programmes that actively promote black advancement by extending opportunity.”

Responding to a question on whether there had been tensions between members of the DA’s so-called “black caucus” and its “old guard”, as reported in the media, Zille said this had never been an issue.

“There was never an issue… There never really was anything such as a ‘black caucus’… There wasn’t any division or racial polarisation on issues at all,” she said.

On whether there would be “recriminations” over the DA’s apparent confusion in Parliament over its position on employment equity and BEE legislation, Mazibuko said this would not happen. The matter had been dealt with by party structures.

“There will be no recriminations. I have re-allocated two portfolios and that is the extent of the change that will take place at a personal level,” she said.

Zille said the set of policies finalised by her party over the weekend would “drastically reduce poverty and inequality”.

Economic growth had to be inclusive.

“That is why we support corrective programmes that actively promote black advancement without hampering growth and jobs.”

Asked how she thought the party’s voters might respond to these policies in next year’s general election, Zille said black advancement was aimed at benefiting all.

“If there are South Africans who don’t like this, there are many other parties to choose from,” she said. – Sapa

DA spokesman says ANC much better than ‘apartheid’

EFF leader Julius Malema was wrong to say that the ANC-led government is worse than the apartheid government, DA spokesman Mmusi Maimane said on Monday.

“You may have heard Julius Malema saying over the weekend that the ANC is worse than apartheid. It is wrong to create this impression among South Africans,” he said in a speech prepared for delivery.

“Apartheid was worse because it was a system of entrenched racism. Apartheid was worse because we couldn’t vote out apartheid. In fact, we couldn’t vote at all.”

The Economic Freedom Fighters’ leader said at the rally in Lethabong near Rustenburg, North West, on Saturday that black people would never own land under the African National Congress.

“Our struggle is about land. [Former president Nelson] Mandela was arrested for demanding land,” Malema said.

Maimane said “the sacrifice that so many made for our freedom” had to be remembered.

“Like so many others where I grew up, I used to be an ANC supporter. I believed that the ANC could bring about a better life for me and my family,” he said.

“Since then I have seen how that once proud movement has lost its way under the current leadership.”

He said apartheid was forced on the people against their will, while the ANC was “not compulsory”.

“The ANC is a political party in a democracy. We can vote for another party if we feel let down by the one in power.” – Sapa

DA wants failed US policy on education to help SA

Economic exclusion of blacks must first be addressed in the classroom and thereafter in the boardroom.

This is the view of the DA, which yesterday released a discussion document on black economic empowerment and equality in education.

Central to the party’s green paper on economic inclusion is the country’s poor state of education. The proposals seem to have been lifted from the US policy called “No Child Left Behind”, which has been termed a failure in America.

“At the heart of the DA’s position on redress lies the recognition that exclusion from economic opportunities must primarily be addressed by broadening access to quality education, improving educational outcomes and the alignment of education and skills development initiatives with the needs of the economy,” the party says.

Its document is also likely to draw the ire of teacher unions, especially the SA Democratic Teachers Union, as it suggests that teachers are poorly qualified and that school management leaves much to be desired.

Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga also came in for some heavy criticism.

Although not mentioned by name, the documentcalls on her to finalise “clear norms and standards” to create an environment “that is conducive to learning”. – timeslive.co.za/praag

Zille rejoices as Mandela’s Victor Verster house becomes national landmark

Helen Zille, supporting the ANC icon Mandela

Nelson Mandela moved into his Victor Verster in 1988. A few year later the world watched in awe as Mandela walked free from Victor Verster prison.

Western Cape premier Helen Zille says: “We’ve heard some really interesting stories about the house… a lot of anecdotes. I mean we were told how Madiba saw a microwave for the first time and thought it was a TV. I mean everything in this house is still the same and we need to preserve such history”

23 years later the refurbished Madiba Freedom Walk Road was opened. It has cost the DA municipality R6 million to upgrade the road.

The DA believes tourists will flock to the place in numbers and the refurbished road would make access easier.

“Correctional facilities are very strict. Before, anyone coming to the house had to go through the prison gate. Now the road grants everyone easier access to the Madiba house,” says Correctional services’ Jacobus Sinclair.

The Madiba house is now a landmark that is etched in history, according to the main opposition party.

Cosatu calls Nast appointment backward and reactionary

Trade union federation Cosatu has condemned the appointment of a former Democratic Alliance leader to the Gauteng planning commission.

This was “the most reactionary and backward decision ever made in the history of the Gauteng government”, Cosatu Gauteng chairman Phutas Tseki said on Wednesday.

He said the appointment of Timothy Nast — the former mayor of Midvaal — was made without consulting the Congress of SA Trade Unions.

Nast ingratiated himself with the ANC by attacking Afrikaner symbols and schools in Midvaal before he resigned amid allegations of fraud and misconduct. His efforts seem not to have convinced some in the Tripartite Alliance.

“We call upon the Gauteng government, and the premier in particular, to reverse this appointment.”

The premier should urgently convene a meeting of the alliance in Gauteng to discuss this matter, Tseki said.

Nast was appointed chief director of infrastructure planning in the commission on August 1.

The premier defended her decision on Wednesday, saying: “Mr Nast was appointed on the basis of his vast and valuable experience in building a strong public service; a factor that suits the demands and the focus on infrastructure planning in the province.” – Sapa/praag

DA strips ‘racist’ of party membership

The DA has stripped suspended Nelson Mandela Bay Metro DA councillor, Stanford Slabbert of his party membership after a disciplinary committee found him guilty of circulating an offensive and racist e-mail, criticising President Jacob Zuma.

In the e-mail Slabbert said Zuma had more wives than brain cells.

Eastern Cape DA leader, Athol Trollip says the party followed due processes.

“There were charges brought against Cllr Slabbert. He’s been guilty on three of the four charges. They are constitutional breaches due to him circulating racist and offensive email. The sanction has been, he’s found guilty and the finding is that membership is terminated meaning no longer member of DA. He has one more avenue to follow; an appeal through federal legal commission.”

Tlokwe: Food parcels to ‘buy votes’

The SA National Civic Organisation (Sanco) has accused Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini of trying to buy votes in Tlokwe, in the North West, with food parcels, the Saturday Star reported.

Sanco regional secretary James Gadinabokao reportedly said that Dlamini distributed parcels ahead of ward by-elections in an attempt to buy votes.

“This is a blatant abuse of state resources to campaign for votes,” he said.

“Why does the minister choose to go to Ward Nine, where by-elections will be held, of all the poverty-stricken areas in Tlokwe?”

Dlamini denied this was the motivation behind the relief efforts and said there were more than 17 000 child-headed households in Tlokwe.

“We are not going to stop our programmes because there are by-elections. The problem of malnutrition in this area is a concern for us.”

However, according to the report, a representative from the DR Kenneth Kaunda municipality warned residents on Friday that if the ANC-led government lost power, they would lose grants and food parcels.

Tlokwe’s ANC mayor Maphetle Maphetle has been unseated twice when ANC councillors voted to replace him with Democratic Alliance councillor Annette Combrink.

The ANC’s North West provincial disciplinary committee expelled the councillors concerned, resulting in them losing their seats.

The by-elections are scheduled to take place on Wednesday. – Sapa

ANC: Racial tension in DA

The DA’s two Gauteng premier candidates indicated racial tension within the party, the ANC in the province said on Wednesday.

“The fact that the Democratic Alliance has two premier candidates is a distinctly inauspicious sign that the party is in a state of mess, confusion and leadership squabbles,” African National Congress Gauteng chairman Dumisa Ntuli claimed.

He was responding to the news that the Democratic Alliance’s Gauteng leader Jack Bloom and party spokesman Mmusi Maimane would vie for selection as the party’s preferred candidate for premier.

“It is a clear indication that there are deeper fights taking place between blacks and whites because of greed, factional battles and rupture caused [by] lack of policies and identity. We know that the DA is a white party and always want to hides behind a façade of a black face.”

Maimane dismissed Ntuli’s comments as political rhetoric aimed at diverting public attention from the ANC’s failings.

“They have no delivery record and are losing credibility. All they want to argue is race,” he said.

Attempts to portray the DA as a white party contained the implication that the ANC was therefore a black party, Maimane said.

The focus on race issues showed the ANC had departed from the non-racial principles of its former president Albert Luthuli, he said. – Sapa

Zille defends drug user DA King

The King's drug of choice still illegal — The King’s drug of choice still illegal

DA leader Helen Zille has defended the party’s controversial decision to accept abaThembu King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo as a member, and said he would only forfeit his membership if he lost his appeal against his conviction on charges that include culpable homicide.

The decision – which has been widely criticised as expedient and lampooned by cartoonists – had been a “pragmatic” one, Zille said.

The king’s announcement of his intention to join the DA had taken the party by surprise and confronted it with the choice of accepting or rejecting him in public.

Responding “below the radar” had not been an option since the king had broadcast his plan to join the party and issued a public invitation for it to sign him up, Zille wrote in her SA Today newsletter on Monday.

She and DA Eastern Cape leader Athol Trollip had discussed the situation and decided to give Dalindyebo the opportunity to “reconsider” after informing him of the “implications of joining the DA”.

Trollip had gone to see him and spelled out the DA principles and opposition to the Traditional Courts Bill.

Trollip had made it clear that if the Appeal Court upheld Dalindyebo’s criminal conviction, he would lose his DA membership.

Dalindyebo is appealing against his conviction on charges including arson, kidnapping, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm and culpable homicide.

UCT law professor Pierre de Vos pointed out in his blog that the DA constitution said a member of the party automatically loses that membership if convicted of any offence listed in Schedule 1, 2, 5, 6 or 7 of the Criminal Procedure Act – and stressed that this included culpable homicide, kidnapping and assault “when a dangerous wound is inflicted”.

Previously, the DA had called for President Jacob Zuma, when he was the deputy president, to be fired when his former financial adviser, Schabir Shaik, was convicted, despite Zuma himself not having been convicted of any offence.

But Zille said the DA had welcomed Dalindyebo because no one else who joined the party as an ordinary member was subject to an ideology test or “due diligence” investigation.

Politics involved converting opponents, “not creating impenetrable barriers to entry” and the party’s “core mandate” was to win more votes in order to win elections “so that we can implement our policies, to better serve all South Africans”.

This was “politics in the real world”, or “realpolitik”, and time would tell whether it had been the right choice. – IOL

Weed-smoking king joins DA

Controversial AbaThembu King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo has joined the DA, the party’s Eastern Cape leader said on Monday.

The self-confessed dagga-smoking Dalindyebo said he is not perturbed by being constantly associated with the illegal smoke.

“ (Smoking) dagga [marijuana] is a cultural behaviour. I am a Rastafarian by nature,” he told reporters at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.

“That (association with dagga) should not surprise you.”

“After a long meeting (on Monday) to discuss the DA’s values and the DA’s constitution, I can confirm that AbaThembu King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo has joined the DA,” Athol Trollip said.

Trollip said earlier on Monday he was meeting the king near Mthatha.

Last month, Dalindyebo made headlines when he reportedly described the African National Congress and President Jacob Zuma as “corrupt hooligans”. He made the remarks in Qunu, in the Eastern Cape, at a prayer service for ailing former president Nelson Mandela.

Dalindyebo reportedly said the ANC had distorted the anti-apartheid icon’s legacy and behaved arrogantly. He said he would stop smoking dagga the day Zuma stopped being corrupt.

Dalindyebo also said he would join the Democratic Alliance as a birthday gift to Mandela. Mandela, who remains in a critical but stable condition in a Pretoria hospital, turns 95 on Thursday.

On Saturday, AbaThembu royal family spokesman Nkosi Daludumo Mtirara said the family had apologised to Zuma.

He said at the time that a resolution in September last year, to remove Dalindyebo as king, had not been finalised. – Sapa

ANC going to court over Potchefstroom

The ANC has filed papers in the High Court in Johannesburg against Potchefstroom mayor Maphetle Maphetle’s unseating, the party said on Monday.

“The speaker [Barei Mosiane], who is the speaker coming from the ANC… has actually filed the papers nullifying that meeting,” ANC North West acting secretary Gordon Kegakilwe said in Potchefstroom.

He was referring to a council meeting on Tuesday at which DA councillor Annette Combrink was voted in as mayor.

“For now, as the ANC, we don’t recognise that meeting, we don’t recognise Combrink.”

Kegakilwe was speaking at the taxi rank in Potchefstroom following an African National Congress provincial working committee (PWC) meeting in the town.

He, ANC North West chairman Supra Mahumapelo, and national executive committee deployee and Land Reform Minister Gugile Nkwinti were doing a walkabout at the taxi rank.

Combrink was voted in as the new mayor on Tuesday, the second time since November, unseating Maphetle. Democratic Alliance North West leader Chris Hattingh said at the time that 29 councillors of all parties, including the ANC, unanimously voted to return Combrink to the position of mayor.

On Wednesday, the North West ANC’s provincial disciplinary committee said 14 of its councillors who voted to unseat Maphetle, were expelled from the party. They would also be removed Potchefstroom councillors.

Kegakilwe said the councillors had to be expelled because they handed power to an opposition party.

“They can’t take power that the people have given to the ANC and give it to the DA, the DA which has never taken care of our people and will never take care of our people.

“We are here now in the taxi rank to tell the people that it’s only the African National Congress that can change their lives for the better.”

Kegakilwe said the PWC on Monday appointed six new proportional representation councillors for the municipality.

By-elections would be held soon to elect new ward councillors.

He said the ANC did not recognise Combrink as mayor and said Maphetle was still mayor.

“Combrink will never do anything for the people of Potchefstroom… she will never assist the people, she has never assisted them. They will keep on promising what they can’t achieve,” Kegakilwe said.

He said the ANC was confident it would win the court case to nullify the council’s decision.

“We are confident, we have studied all the documents and we are quite sure… Her [Combrink’s] mayorship is not recognised. Comrade Maphetle is the ANC mayor.”

The DA on Monday said Maphetle had failed to adhere to a legal notice forcing him to vacate his office at the municipality.

“During talks with DA councillors today, Mr Maphetle attempted to push for a political and not a legal resolution for the impasse,” Hattingh said.

“He also indicated that he has instructed his mayoral committee not to vacate their offices.”

Hattingh said the DA was consulting its lawyers on the issue.

Earlier, several Potchefstroom residents welcomed the DA taking over the municipality.

“What happened in the council is right,” PR Kali said at the town’s taxi rank.

“We think there will be change if the Democratic Alliance takes over.”

He said the ANC-dominated council had done nothing to eradicate poverty in the city or create jobs.

TB Masibi said he was expecting “huge change”.

“We expect a lot of change from the DA. They will combat crime and corruption.”

While the DA was in charge last year, it requested a forensic investigation into irregularities at the municipality. The probe found that the council had irregularly bought Maphetle a R736,000 customised Mercedes-Benz. Maphetle also allegedly abused the disaster management fund and poverty relief fund.

The report recommended that formal disciplinary action be taken against him and other officials.

In May, the DA laid criminal charges against Maphetle. In June Public Protector Thuli Madonsela said she would investigate the claims of corruption involving Maphetle.

Both Masibi and Kali complained about corruption and the lack of jobs.

Many of the fruit and vegetable vendors at the Potchefstroom taxi rank were from Lesotho.

Masibi said he used to have a shop but could not compete with the foreigners and the ANC had done nothing to create jobs for locals.

A woman who did not want to be named said she “felt good” about the DA taking over.

“I am happy… [The ANC] is not for me,” she said. – Sapa

Statements about Mazibuko’s weight, ‘darkies’, ‘clowns’ withdrawn in SA parliament

DA parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko, 'a person of considerable weight but no stature' — DA parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko, ‘a person of considerable weight but no stature’

Senior ANC MP John Jeffery formally withdrew his controversial remark about DA parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko’s weight and apologised to her on Tuesday.

He did so after deputy speaker Nomaindia Mfeketo ruled emphatically that the comment was unparliamentary.

“In the past, many rulings were made on remarks regarding members’ physical appearance, and these have always been found to be insensitive, offensive and a violation of a member’s dignity,” she said.

“I have no intention to depart from this precedent, and I accordingly find that remark not only insensitive, but unparliamentary. It is indeed the responsibility of every one of us to ensure that we exercise the right to freedom of speech in a considerate and responsible manner.”

Jeffery then rose and said: “I withdraw, and I would also like to take the opportunity to apologise. The statement was not intended to be sexist.”

Last week, during the debate on the presidency’s budget vote, Jeffery said: “While the honourable Mazibuko may be a person of substantial weight, her stature is questionable.”

The Democratic Alliance subsequently called on African National Congress chief whip Mathole Motshekga to discipline Jeffery, and fellow ANC MP Buti Manamela, who had criticised Mazibuko’s dress.

The ANC said Jeffery would withdraw his remark, but that Manamela would not be ordered to do the same as the party agreed she was dressed inappropriately.

Mfeketo’s ruling came after Speaker Max Sisulu ruled other recent remarks describing MPs as racist, “clowns” and “darkies” out of order, and appealed to members to choose their words carefully.

“Remarks of a personal, racist or sexist nature are out of order, completely out of order. I therefore appeal to members, as public representatives, to refrain from course, uncouth, or unbecoming language that detracts from the dignity or decorum of the house.” – Sapa