ANC dismayed by Zille's attitude

The Western Cape ANC has today in the provincial legislature asked the DA leader Helen Zille to come clean on her real feelings and views on blacks.

ANC MPL (Mr.) Patrick McKenzie has probed Zille in question time as the DA is seen as taking the province backwards: Back to apartheid times.

McKenzie cited Zille's statement in the Western Cape provincial legislature when she said about some women in the national assembly that they "...take up space there, earn a salary, eat a big lunch, pack in some ‘padkos' and drive off in a C-class Mercedes-Benz without having made any contribution..." (Hanzard, Wednesday, 20 October 1999, Page 597.)

McKenzie also referred to other examples of references by Zille like the "refugees" statement and using the term "professional black".

McKenzie says the Western Cape is fast becoming a province of racial hate.

The ANC has also pointed out that African and coloured people are side-lined where the DA rules as many black women were purged, like where a person was appointed without having welfare skills as the head of the department of social development.

"The ANC expects better from this premier as she has to instead assist to break down racial conflict and build cohesion in government and the province. When one looks at her and her party's record, it seems to be anti-black as perceptions are growing that black people feel unwelcome in this province.

"The DA and Zille don't help to alley adverse views by making loose remarks that hurt other people, especially blacks. Zille's reactions in the legislature also don't help to change the opinion of blacks," says McKenzie.

The ANC in the Western Cape wants to unite all people, nurture our delicate democracy and will not tolerate actions that endanger our cohesion.

Statement issued by Patrick McKenzie MPL, ANC Western Cape, May 10 2012

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