21 June 1999
Mr Speaker
I rise to respond in this debate with clear conscience, with straight face and with confidence, because I know that 42% of the electorate have given us the ANC, a mandate.
Mr speaker. There are certain opportunities that present themselves only once in life. We refer to this as historic opportunities. Our collective failure, as leaders and society to respond and rise to such occasions will have great consequences. This will constitute a failure to be part of the historic march that the entire South African nation in the making is currently undergoing. It is however unforgivable when people who should be leaders failed to take stock and advantage at various historic moments. What defines a leader is an ability to read the historic moment and mood of the people and direct these towards the realisation of our noble goals. The NNP and DP should honestly and critically pose this question to themselves: Are we responding correctly and appropriately to the historic opportunity - which I will personally define as the need to overcome the historic divide imposed by the National Party through its apartheid policies. I am convinced that history will not forgive those who act irresponsible and without a conscious.
In concrete terms, what does this mean to the Western Cape Province? It means that as a result of the failure of both the NNP and DP to rise to the historic occasion, the Province will have a "crisis of moral and political legitimacy". The DP and NNP are indeed aware that they are taking advantage of a loophole in the constitution to undermine our country and province's historic march towards non-racialism, democracy and tolerance.
The threat to stability in the Western Cape is and will not be the threat of mass action by some groups. It is the "rage" of the poor and downtrodden who will lose confidence in the political process in the Province. The opportunism of the DP and NNP is sending a wrong message and strengthening a perception among our people in this Province that politics is not about meeting their social and economic needs. They will shift to the view that says their vote is meaningless. The consequences of this will be a new culture of entitlement and further reinforcing the vigilantism. This is the consequence of an environment where the authorities do not have the moral and political legitimacy necessary for effective governance.
We have noted with keen interest Premier Morkel's announcement in regard to poverty alleviation. It remains a vague statement not backed by any budgetary resources and real commitment. We have said that the primary vehicle for poverty alleviation remains job creation through various Public Works Programmes, which has never received support from your government over the past two years. Furthermore, poverty alleviation is not an add on function but rather must be at the very heart of governance. It must shape the manner in which resources are allocated in our society. It is about a commitment to restructure and transform society, and most importantly to redistribute resources equitable.
Indeed, the NNP and DP are starting to get the message regarding this "rage" of the poor. They have started to experience the beginning of this "rage" through the election results. However their response to this remains opportunistic and dangerous. They continue to view poverty alleviation within the context of patronage in the delivery of social and economic services - a form of governance that the NNP remains the only experts.
Based on our manifesto to bring change in this Province; by change the ANC to include the following:
1. Restructuring and redeployment of the Police to the most needy areas like the Cape Flats. For the safety of the people;
2. Creation of jobs and growing the economy of the Western Cape through effective utilization and redistribution of government resources.
3. Transformation of the public service and organs of the state
We also said that the ANC will have to defuse the housing time bomb.
The poorest of the poor said they want to embark on this route. The ANC, through its programme that enjoys the support of the overwhelming majority of our people is indeed responding to the historic moment.
Mr Speaker it is important to state at the outset this fact. In order that those who are confused about what they stood for in their manifesto think again or they die a natural death. The trend in the Western Cape has been clear since 1996; the NNP represents a dying species.
Mr Speaker the Premier's first statement on Friday about God given right to govern the Western Cape, reminded me that throughout the apartheid period the NP claimed it was a god given right for them to dominate the blacks, for them to oppress, exploit and detain without trial, including the killing of freedom fighters.
The electorate in the Western Cape did not even give you the mandate. I'll agree if you are honest and say I plotted to become the premier of the Western Cape. Should not our political commentators pose the question whether what had happen in this house last week does not constitute what one may term "legal looting"? I am posing this question because the NNP and DP, as they have done previously took advantage of the constitution not to further progress, democracy and change, but rather to undermine it.
The NNP and DP record of delivery for the last 18 months in this province is:
1. Failed to deal with urban terror
2. Failed to transform the police and manage the effectiveness of policing in the province.
3. They continue to keep the police in the areas where only economic crime is committed.
4. They deliberately refuse to continue the Public Works Program. The provincial budget speaks clearly on this question.
As President Mbeki said in a speech on reconciliation in the National Assembly last year: "much of what is happening in our country, which pushes us away from achieving this goal is producing rage among millions of people. I am convinced that we are faces with the danger of a mounting rage to which we must respond seriously."
In conclusion, I need to say that the DP is not only inconsistent in their preaching, but confirm themselves as a party of the few. Their leaders might have spoken against apartheid in the past. But this is not informed by the need for fundamental change, but rather it is a call for exploitation without apartheid. Hence they are in bed with the NNP in 1999.
I thank you!