Richard Dyantyi is seeking a bloodless coup d'état
September 22, 2006 Edition 1
When the Constitutional Court allowed for floor-crossing - arguably that court's darkest hour in its short history - democracy was ero-ded, and now it is happening again with MEC Richard Dyanti's proposals.
Now, I am no DA fan, but the principle that sets demo-cracy apart from any other form of government is that it is the voice of the people which determines who represents us, what they represent, and how that is represented in the corridors of power.
Floor-crossing denied us that right by allowing elected representatives to "turn" on the very people who elected them.
Now, once again, after the people have spoken, the goalposts are being moved.
When politicians like Dyanti claim they are acting in terms of this or that legislation, and "that makes it right", they reveal what little appreciation they have for democracy, let alone their disregard for the people.
The people of the Western Cape voted with a particular system in mind - that of an executive mayor - and now their voice is being silenced.
Our constitution is meant to protect the voice of the people, and while Dyanti may claim his actions are legally sound, what he is attempting is the equivalent of a coup d'état, without the violence.
Both disregard the fact that the people have spoken.
Once democracy starts to be eroded for the sake of expedience, it's a short trip to chaos - ask any Zimbabwean.
Rowan Haarhoff
Pinelands
Richard Dyantyi's reasoning as to why an executive committee system is preferable to a mayoral executive system makes interesting reading.
These arguments were shot down by the ANC itself when the previous mayor insisted on the mayoral executive system.
My question to Mr Dyantyi is whether these arguments hold for all the municipalities in the province, and, if so, whether he wishes to convert them to all to the executive committee system?
If he does not do that, it will prove that his arguments are used only as a subterfuge to prevent mayor Helen Zille from exposing the inefficiency, graft and corruption of the previous mayoral executive committee.
Johan Steenekamp
Constantia
In 1994 we won the respect of the international community as we held our first democratic elections.
Twelve years on, our very own government appears to be laughing in the face of that democracy.
The people of Cape Town chose Helen Zille - and we were correct in our choice.
Since becoming mayor, she has boldly exposed the previous governing party for what it truly is - corrupt.
She has bravely sought the truth for the good of Cape Town and its communities, and I salute her.
Power-hungry Dyantyi is flagrantly tossing aside the very freedoms we fought for under apartheid.
By disregarding the election results and thereby the will of the people, the ANC has revealed its true ambitions - democracy is not the endgame, a one-party autocratic state is.
Tanya Dzimbowski
Durbanville
I don't care what party runs Cape Town. What I do know is that the ANC had its chance and blew it.
There are too many negatives to mention and it can't be trusted to be a part of a committee working with the city's tenders and money ever again.
Our mayor is just doing what any other politician would have done, working on her opponent's weaknesses and mistakes to score points with the public.
I don't know if the service delivery has improved in the non-white areas or if more houses will be built soon.
What I know is that our mayor is getting the better of our lazy, non-delivering and non-performing councillors.
Some departmental directors and managers are starting to work at last after a long overdue and paid holiday under ANC rule.
In that respect, unfortunately for most, Helen Zille seems to be the best person to do the job.
Petrofski Williams
Cape Town
