The circus is over, newly elected Western Cape Premier Ebrahim Rasool said on Monday in his inaugural speech in the provincial legislature where he, together with a new speaker, deputy speaker and 42 other MPLs were sworn in.
”Today I reiterate the words: the circus is over,” said Rasool, who was nominated and elected unopposed.
The new speaker is the African National Congress’s Shaun Byneveldt and the deputy speaker is Piet Meyer, the former provincial minister for health in the province. Both were elected unopposed.
Rasool, during his acceptance speech, said that the first two parliamentary sittings of the Western Cape were characterised by great instability, which often sank to ”comical proportions”.
Now, however, the possibilities are greater than ever before for having a dignified and stable provincial government.
”This government will work because it is founded as a stable coalition between the ANC and NNP [New National Party] … It must be a source of comfort for our people that we, the ANC and NNP, who have historically fought each other, now work together in their interest,” said Rasool.
He also touched on what he said was greater introspection by the Democratic Alliance and how that could help stability in government.
”The simple redefinition of ‘enemy’ into ‘rival’ must be an act of goodwill and maturity, a recognition that for most South Africans transformation, reconciliation and cooperation is preferable to the polarisation that naturally ensues from a Westminster parliamentary system.”
Borrowing from iconic ANC leader Albert Luthuli, Rasool pledged that the Western Cape is a home for all that lived in it, whether black, coloured or white.
He said that unity, cooperation and non-racialism among the people of the province are key to any success the new government wants to achieve over the next five years.
In a move possibly designed to reinforce this message, even among the factionally divided ANC in the Western Cape, Rasool was nominated to the premiership by Mcebisi Skwatsha, one of his main competitors for the position during provincial canvassing for the premiership.
During the five-year term under the premiership of the ANC, Rasool said issues that will be tackled include closer cooperation between provincial and local government; HIV/Aids; reducing crime and violence; addressing uncertainty and despair among workers and youth; and re-establishing respect for the elderly.
Rasool, addressing a large crowd of ANC supporters outside the steps of the legislature, pledged to ”work day and night” to improve service delivery and fight poverty.
Earlier in the chamber, opposition parties congratulated the newly elected premier.
Official opposition leader Theuns Botha said the fact that there are so many new MPLs will hopefully translate into a ”new thinking, new enthusiasm and new work ethic”.
Botha gave the assurance that if Rasool establishes and maintains a transparent government urgently tackling matters such as poverty, jobs, HIV/Aids and corruption, then he can count on the support of the DA. — Sapa
Morkel loses bid for W Cape seat