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INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPERS
The ANC in the Western Cape legislature took another swipe at Western Cape Premier Helen Zille over her absenteeism from the provincial legislature, accusing her of flying to the UK to seek direction from her former policy strategist while failing to respond to the needs of the people. File photo: Sibusiso Ndlovu
Cape Town - The ANC in the Western Cape legislature took another swipe at Western Cape Premier Helen Zille over her absenteeism from the provincial legislature, accusing her of flying to the UK to seek direction from her former policy strategist while failing to respond to the needs of the people.
ANC chief whip Pierre Uys asked: “It is clear that governance is not a priority of the DA, led by the honourable Zille. Instead, she is in Britain to seek direction from her policy strategist Ryan Coetzee. How is her going there assisting the poor residents of the Cape?”
Zille’s spokesman, Zak Mbhele, said earlier this week that the premier was in the UK in her capacity as DA leader, while DA members said she was encouraging South Africans living abroad to register to vote.
Zille was expected back in the country on Thursday, but opposition parties in the legislature have criticised her for failing to pitch for the sitting of the provincial legislature.
Addressing the House, Uys said: “There is a disaster with flooding in the province, sanitation and housing, but she goes everywhere but to stay here with the people in need, knocking on her door in the Western Cape where she refuses to help them.
Why not send her national parliamentary leader to attend to such matters?”
Uys said that for the past three months the premier had failed to answer their questions in the legislature: “Not even her acting premier may answer questions on her behalf.”
warda.meyer@inl.co.za
Cape Argus
