COSATU calls for vote of no confidence in Premier Zille
21st November 2012
COSATU calls for ANC and other opposition parties to table a motion of no confidence in the Premier of the Western Cape. The basis for the motion of no confidence is that the Premier had by her own admission known about upcoming protest in the agricultural sector in the Western Cape.
The Premier had however not called the farmers and labour together to deal with this threat and put in place steps to mitigate the risk. This was clearly a dereliction of duty on the part of the Premier, which led to the death of 2 people and the loss of millions of rand and confidence in the agricultural sector.
The Premier had also in the manner in which she approached the matter violated the slogan of the W Cape of better together. In fact the Premier has consistently refused to work with Labour on the various socio economic challenges facing the Province. This is a serious fault line in her leadership and one that puts the Province at risk, and deepens the divisions amongst the different classes.
The Premier compounds her weakness, by choosing sides in the conflict, by promoting the interest of the farmers. Workers were aware of the bias of the Premier and slighted her by chasing her out of the De Doorns area. This led to the Premier calling for the army to come and teach the farm workers a lesson.
This behaviour of the Premier has caused a considerable risk to the Province and questions must be raised about her silence in relation to the right wingers who have been coming into the Province to supposedly defend the farmers. The Premier must be aware of this threat that is all over right-wing face book pages, and there should at least be a call for the intelligence service to investigate this.
The bias and inability of leadership by the Premier in this crisis time must raise serious question as to the suitability of the Premier for responsible public senior office, and a vote of confidence should be debated in the Provincial Legislature, so that all the related matters can be considered and reflected on, with the view to a vote of no confidence.
Statement issued by COSATU Western Cape Provincial Secretary, Tony Ehrenreich, November 21 2012
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