The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Northern Cape will hit the ground running as the official opposition in the province. This follows yesterday’s formation of committees and the election of chairpersons of the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature (NCPL).
The ANC opted to go for ANC, FF+ and PA-led chairperson positions, as they opted not to go into a Government of Provincial Unity, despite them getting less than 50% support at the polls.
Instead of adopting a spirit of unity, proportionality and principles, the ANC prioritized the retention of power, forming what increasingly mimics a grand coalition with the FF+ to get the ANC over the line. This is underscored by deals made in respect of the advancement of the independence of Orania and for committee positions with the FF+ and the PA, in return for securing Dr Zamani Saul’s premiership.
The DA still hold the second largest share of votes in the province, and we remain committed to fully represent those that rally behind us.
We therefore take up our positions in the opposition benches dutifully. With the sole responsibility of holding the executive and provincial government departments accountable, we will relentlessly interrogate wrongdoing, serve as the voice of reason, be the instigators of consequence, and remain the champions of the people of this province as we fight against corruption and unemployment, and for significantly improved service delivery.