The Independent Democrats (ID) have accused Cape Town mayor Helen Zille of arrogance and contempt for her decision not to meet Western Cape local government minister Richard Dyantyi.
The claim came from ID caucus leader Simon Grindrod, in an address to Dyantyi on Tuesday at a gathering called by the provincial minister to hear views on his proposal to change the city’s system of government.
The proposal will strip Zille of her executive powers.
Zille and her Democratic Alliance, and the DA’s six coalition partners in the city government boycotted the meeting, which was attended only by the ID and the African National Congress.
Grindrod, whose party leader Patricia de Lille on Sunday apologised for backing an ANC mayor earlier this year and declared that her party would oppose Dyantyi’s move, said the ID believed it was very important to hear the minister’s position ”first hand”.
”The DA and their coalition partners have shown great arrogance and contempt in not attending as requested,” he said.
”On the one hand, Helen Zille complains that her democratically elected position is not being recognised. In the same breath she openly disrespects the office of a provincial minister.”
He also said the DA decision to stick to the executive mayoral system despite promising in their local government election manifesto to abolish it ”stinks to the high heavens of hypocrisy”.
The ID wanted an executive committee system — as in Dyantyi’s proposal — but not under these circumstances.
The ID would continue to fight for an executive committee through the ballot box, and not through the courts. – Sapa