Cape Town has delivered - Helen Zille

This weekend, COPE's off-again, on-again Premier candidate in the Western Cape, Allan Boesak, claimed that the DA had not made a difference to the lives of the people of Cape Town . When politicians resort to propagating falsehoods like this, it is because they have run out of ideas. Boesak is trying to divert attention from the deep tensions in COPE over his Premier candidacy, and to cover up for the fact that his party lacks an alternative policy platform.

After only three years in office, the DA-led multiparty government has established a track record in Cape Town . Although we still have a long way to go before we achieve all the policy outcomes we are aiming for, we have so far gained a reputation for improved efficiency and service delivery. The DA will strive to govern successfully across South Africa over the next few years, as we consolidate our status as a party of government provincially in the 2009 elections, at local level across South Africa in 2011, and nationally in 2014.

Our strategy is to show - in government - how our policies for an open, opportunity society can help to change people's lives for the better. That is what we are busy doing in Cape Town . That is what we will do in the Western Cape and, possibly, some other provinces after the 2009 election. And that is what we will eventually do nationally in 2014.

The only way to consolidate our democracy is to break the ANC's grip on power and stop its power abuse.  To do this we must build a new majority, step by step, starting with local government.  I have accepted nomination as the DA's candidate for the premiership in the Western Cape to help facilitate the next step - installing the DA in provincial government - and to allow new leadership to emerge in Cape Town .  DA-led governments in Cape Town and the Western Cape will work together to achieve shared goals of service delivery and development for all.  This will be a significant step forward.  For the last three years the Province has actually worked to undermine the City's delivery programme in housing, in community safety, in public transport, in tourism and other crucial areas.  When we govern the province, we will remove these blockages to delivery and progress will be significantly faster.

People often tell me that we don't say enough about our track record in Cape Town , and that our successes should be brought to the attention of a wider audience. That is because we prefer to work rather than to boast. Every day we work hard together to make things a little bit better in Cape Town . If you add up all those small steps over a long time, progress is meaningful, and it is possible to show the difference that open, opportunity government makes in their lives. I believe in the principle "show, don't tell", but let me use this opportunity to set Reverend Boesak straight by telling him a few truths.

Under the DA, the economy in Cape Town has grown and more opportunities have been created. Cape Town's gross geographic product increased by over 12% from R116.6 billion in 2005 - when the ANC governed - to R130.77bn in 2007, under DA rule. Unemployment declined from 20.7% in 2005 to 17.9% in 2007, which is below the national average of 23.2%.

Under the DA, government has become more efficient. Within a year of taking over the city, we cut debt by nearly R1bn. That allowed us to extend the capital available for service delivery by 15%. And we have put the money to good use: for example, we have begun supplying electricity to informal settlements that fall under Eskom's jurisdiction - such as Happy Valley and Site B Khayelitsha - areas to which the ANC sought to block electricity provision.

We have been able to write off debt for the very poor to the value of R1.5-billion. We have speeded up service delivery, we offer free basic services for all, and we are busy installing electricity and water in the areas that did not receive them when the ANC was in government.

We have tripled the investment in infrastructure that benefits the public and supports the economy from an average of R1bn per year between 2002 and 2006, under the ANC, to R3.1 bn in 2008.

We have doubled the average annual rate of housing delivery, from the ANC's average of 3 000 per year between 2002 and 2006 to an average of 7 000 per year between 2006 and 2008. And we have introduced fairer housing allocation procedures.

Under the DA, Cape Town has become safer. Crime in the CBD has gone down by 90% since 2000. Capetonians now feel safer: 3 500 residents have moved back into inner city apartments.

Under the DA, Cape Town has become cleaner - clean and transparent in government, clean and beautiful in appearance. Under the ANC a minimum 30% BEE quota applied to tenders, which was used to advance the economic interests of bidders with top political connections. In 2006 the DA scrapped the policy and implemented an open equity programme that encourages greater numbers of bidders to apply. The result has been a 10% increase in the number of contracts awarded to BEE companies.

Cape Town is clean both figuratively and literally: In 2007, Cape Town was awarded the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism's annual Cleanest Metro award.

The ANC brought Cape Town to the brink of collapse, but the DA saved it and we are busy turning it into a success. And we will do the same in those provinces that we win after the election - either on our own or in coalition - by implementing the policies that give life to our vision of an open, opportunity society for all.

The DA is on track to win the Western Cape , and there is a chance that we may be able to form coalition governments in Gauteng and the Northern Cape .

That is the next phase in a long-term plan that the DA initiated when we formed the multiparty government in Cape Town in 2006. The plan is for the DA to become a party of government in every sphere - locally, provincially and nationally - by 2014. In the 2011 local government elections, we will add to the several municipalities we already govern by winning cities and towns across South Africa . And the process will culminate when we form the core of national government in 2014.

In each of these spheres, we will implement the policies that give life to our alternative vision of an open, opportunity society for all. These policies have made an important difference to the lives of people in Cape Town - contrary to what Reverend Boesak might claim - and over the next five years we will work hard to ensure that every South African comes to benefit from them.

This is an extract from a speech by Democratic Alliance leader, Helen Zille, at a public meeting in Bedfordview, Gauteng, March 2 2009

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responses to this article

Mo' Zille Botox Browzer, browzer, browzer by Domza on March 03 2009, 06:37 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Zille and property rates We have to thank Helen 'Botox Betty' Zille for the crazy increase in the property rates in CT. Overnight, rates were hiked 50-100% only to have the council services cut back in alot of areas. Now she wants to introduce a once off increase of 30% to make . .more up for shortfalls in the council budget!!!!! Great mayor she was. . .less by Frank Furta on March 03 2009, 07:43 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Misplaced criticism Boesak the last person fit to criticise Helen. And Domza second last. by Reitz on March 03 2009, 08:29 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Domza I'm paining from the truth by Yawn on March 03 2009, 08:37 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

My heart breaks Mr Furta Your house has probably tripled in price in the last decade yet you get all grumpy when rates, which are based on a percentage of the value, are also adjusted to keep up with the increased value. It is funny how the only thing the opposition seem . .more to have against Helen is that she uses botox. If that is the worst they have against her then the woman is a saint. What I love about the botox thing is her honesty about it. If we had similar honestly from the criminals and fraudsters in the ANC, then this country would be a whole lot better off. . .less by Sad Days on March 03 2009, 09:07 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Zille my hero Fantastic! The DA is the ONLY party delivering. It was eye opening to see people strolling around the streets and playing soccer on the beach after dark on a recent holiday to CT. You don't see this elsewhere in SA. @ Frank - Exorbitant rates . .more increases are country wide - this is not a DA thing. . .less by Duncan on March 03 2009, 09:30 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Don't complain Frankie .. Lucky you Frank Furta!! Our rates in Northern JHB were increased by 800% by the ANC run municipality about 8 years ago in order to "uplift" Alexandra next door to us. It was 'unacceptable' to them that 'rich white folk' should live next door to 'poor . .more black folk' We lost a 2 year court battle trying to prevent it (we fought it mainly because we knew where the money was really going to go). 8 years on, the people of Alex are protesting, complaining that "nothing has changed" since the ANC came into power! Don't complain Boetie ... . .less by Airwolf on March 03 2009, 09:36 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Zille and the DA and the coalition are to be commended Certainly a great deal has been achieved in CT and no doubt, once province and metro are under coalition control, even more. I have thought for a long time now that the route to national government is the one that Helen Zille now puts forward so . .more clearly as her vision, and I am pleased that she plans this in the context of a coalition. In this country we have many good people and politicians who should all work together, and possibly even join up in one party, to beat the evil empire that is the ANC and even COPE. I put COPE in the same moral grouping as the ANC and I have no doubt whatsoever that COPE will very quickly and easily and happily link up with the ANC in coalition if the price is right. . .less by Al on March 03 2009, 09:50 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Zille fir President Go for it Helen....you certainly have the support of like minded indivuduals in the city !! by Taxpayer on March 03 2009, 10:39 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Little Bo-Tox has lost her flocks And doesn't know where to find them by Domza on March 03 2009, 10:42 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Dear Helen I say it again : YOU HAVE MY VOTE. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK by Johnny Ace on March 03 2009, 10:54 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Thanks for the response. Thanks for articulating a view of sanity and potential hope. As for the accusations aginst Ma Helen,if I was that particular preacher man, I would have gone to live in the Karoo and served the poorest of the poor till my dying day. Pity Cope has . .more drudged up this old played out actor,it seemed like it had such promise for a moment. . .less by Mr Kromgeld on March 03 2009, 11:41 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

No substance Domza, it's noticable that your comments are limited to hollow mockery. Why not try and add some constructive criticism to this thread ? Or don't you ever have anything positive to say ? by Reitz on March 03 2009, 11:53 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Uptight scold Smacky botox by Domza on March 03 2009, 12:24 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

tsk TSK Domza You little narrow minded hack you! You have nothing real to say , hence the sniping.To be expected from a Anglo Saxon Brit come to teach the ignorant natives the benefits of communism...Did your mommy not love you Domza??? by Noddy on March 03 2009, 13:00 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Thank-you Zille I am one of the 3 500 who have moved back into the CBD. I feel completely safe, and often walk around at night visiting the many restuarants and bars in the area all by myself. I think the city is looking fantastic, I feel safe and it is diverse. Black, . .more white coloured live side by side as proud capetonians! . .less by Bronwyn on March 03 2009, 13:17 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Boesak the critic; Boesak the criminal I'm sure Boesak would have done a much better job! No need to disburse funds - just steal them and live it up and balme the Apartheid regime. Boesak should shut up. He is tainted goods. Nobody wants tainted goods. Not even Cope. by Lord Max on March 03 2009, 13:25 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Well Done! Oh, for the day when Helen is able to turn the whole country around, and not just Cape Town. by baecoza on March 03 2009, 14:10 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

DA for Durban too please Please vote DA to clean up the dreadful mess in the once lovely city of Durban. Name changing brings no pride to the city centre - the namesakes for the new road names would be ashamed and disgusted by the filth in the gutters - especially on the beach . .more front. ANC Councillors appear to be more concerned about keeping their spot at the pay trough and allowing the pimping of girls on the Berea than getting public transport going or cleaning up the rubbish. eThekwini / Durban has degenerated into a third world den of drug dealers and pimps. . .less by dismayed Durbanite on March 03 2009, 15:37 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

How's the blood pressure Domza ? As much as we love you as our resident pseudo intellectual communist, I am a bit concerned that only 1 of your 3 posts above make any sort of possible sense. Please tell us you haven't caught the dreaded life threatening 'depression disease' . .more from Comrade Shaik. . .less by Sad Days on March 03 2009, 15:49 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

What next?? Well done Ms Zille....1st the CBD and next the Cape Flats. Make it a priority to clean the WP of drugs....all efforts to improve the CBD will be lost of the war on drugs is not intensified. by Staggie on March 03 2009, 16:49 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

glossed over Domza ....in a recent post you displayed a flash of erudition with your Pangloss reference. This vaguely suggests that you are able to rise above puerile insults. Give it a try by ack on March 03 2009, 17:18 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Lead the Way..... I was lucky enough to listen to Helen speak when she was in London a few months back, and there is no denying that this little lady will take our awesome country where it should've been all along..............one of the best in the World !!! Not . .more only for the Western Cape, but for the entire country as well :) Go HELEN !!! . .less by Domsie on March 04 2009, 18:06 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

abortion are for or against abortion thank you by geert on April 22 2009, 17:02 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

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