ANC COGRATULATES ZILLE, WARNS OF 'DARK CLOUD'

This is yesterday's post!

Why is it with politics, that you can never just say "Congratulations and well done!" and leave it at that - there must always be a sting in the tail. Some comment or another must be made to disparage or to belittle or to negate or to mar.

If the truth be told, the ANC themselves haven't met service delivery for the people - recent protests and blocking of roads all over Gauteng more than evidence this, yet they have the nerve to point a finger, even before Zille's term has started.

Needless to say, I am once again amused by our Government and it's leaders - every inch of the way, they have to (and it appears that it is the only way that they can do it) make a name for themselves at someone else's expense. Tells me a whole story all on it's own!

ANC congratulates Zille, warns of 'dark cloud'
Johannesburg, South Africa
07 May 2007 07:11

The ruling African National Congress (ANC) on Sunday congratulated Cape Town Mayor Helen Zille on her election as head of the country's official opposition, the Democratic Alliance (DA)."The ANC congratulated Helen Zille for her victory. We wish her the best of times as the new leader of the opposition," said ANC spokesperson Smuts Ngonyama. The party's Western Cape branch, however, received Zille's appointment with mixed feelings, the South African Broadcasting Corporation reported.

Western Cape ANC chairperson James Ncqulu said while the ANC welcomed Zille's election, the party felt Zille had been "dismal" in her service delivery in Cape Town. He said poor people had been experiencing evictions and water cuts and if Zille remained mayor and DA leader, her views would always be blinded by serving her "narrow party's interests", rather than serving the broader interest of Cape Town. As a result her election as leader "will be a dark cloud to those yearning for service delivery and transformation in Cape Town".

Independent Democrats leader Patricia de Lille welcomed the election of a woman leader to head a political party in South Africa. "The ID led the way in producing the first elected woman leader of a political party in the country and another woman leader will be welcome," she said in a statement congratulating Zille on her post. De Lille said the ID hoped to "see a considerable change in the DA from its traditional obstructive politics to the politics of engagement".

The Young Communist League (YCL) were less enthusiastic in their response to Zille's appointment. Spokesperson Castro Ngobese said the outcome of the election "shows that the DA will forever remain a white political party" and that it did not "appreciate or represent the interests of the majority of our people especially the working class and the poor". He said however, that the election of Zille might provide a turnaround strategy in the party's political approach.

The Christian Front (CF) said Zille was faced with a big responsibility in her new position. "There is a big responsibility that rests on her shoulders to lead the DA into the next election," said the CF's Rudi du Plooy. Du Plooy said Zille had proven herself a formidable opponent to the "normal ANC high-handed tactics in Cape Town".

Meanwhile, the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) valued Zille's ethics, integrity, knowledge and expertise, it said in a statement. ACDP Western Cape provincial leader Hansie Louw said Zille "richly deserved to be the new leader of the DA". "In obedience to Biblical injunctions, we will pray for you and other leaders in our country, in the hope that all of us will contribute to building a better South Africa for all its people," said Louw.

The Freedom Front Plus also tendered its congratulations to Zille. - Sapa