It has been a turbulent 100 days, starting with claims of self-enrichment after being overpaid, alleged mismanagement of casino and film studio rights …
I dealt with it in the legislature [where] I’ve not encouraged African National Congress people to ask me sweetheart questions … When I see the opposition scratching at the fringes of the film studio, I ask that that be asked. Then I can deal with it proactively instead of letting it fester. The last thing I want is to be embroiled into the agenda of the opposition when I have a far more compelling agenda of delivery.
How many of your initial delivery promises were kept?
Eventually there were 28 ”deposits”. It’s only the first payment. That’s why we use the metaphor of deposit because in the hire-purchase condition of the Cape Flats that’s the language that is understood. The reopening of the Atlantis clothing factory was one day late. The Karoo lamb export scheme was not delivered; it was not good to bring European Union inspectors into the country at the same time our ostriches were dying [of avian flu]. [Tackling crime] was complicated: the three alleged drug lords were arrested on the pledge of no bail; in one case the magistrate gave R8 000 bail, when 49 charges were brought … We are disappointed.
And the negative legacies?
The danger is that we may not meet our employment equity targets. We are getting a national team in to help advise us to start making it representative. So there’s action on that. There is action … to change the culture from control-and-command to a culture that is befitting a modern developmental state.
In the planning department, we’ve put a moratorium on all new applications. We are kicking off a development framework that will not allow discretionary decision-making any longer.
Housing is a weak point …
The former head of housing, John Afrika, is suing me for defamation because of the circumstances of his departure. It’s a badge I’m happily wearing. We have begun to establish cooperative governance … [now] we have at our disposal about R1-billion between the three spheres of government. Housing is on the agenda like it’s never been before.
Does being the first ANC premier of the first-ever ANC administration in the Western Cape up the pressure?
In a sense it is easier to win the faith of people, [but] people do have greater expectations. The fact that one has collapsed this false battle with national [government] has meant the amount of cooperation and ability to tap into national processes has been enormous … Look at housing! We now have a rational discussion with national [government] in which we can deal with … migration to the Western Cape as a natural phenomenon rather than as an ideological-political accusation.
And the New National Party?
I am now happily the premier of one cabinet. They are now part of the ANC and subject to the policy and other discipline of the ANC … A greater danger may just be that they will hold back on their own inputs into our thinking, that they will confine themselves too much to their portfolio … that they may not represent their constituencies as passionately as they should.
What will NNP councillors bring to the ANC?
Ten percent of the people of the province have voted for them, many in areas like Mitchells Plain … These [councillors] will earn the great respect of their comrades in the ANC if they can persuade their constituencies the ANC is not the enemy.