Political analyst at the University of the Western Cape Dr Sethulego Matebesi says the Democratic Alliance’s collective leadership has the power to change the Western Cape provincial Cabinet to make it more representative in terms of gender.
The party’s leader and Western Cape Premier Hellen Zille will open the party’s 5th Federal Congress with a keynote address in Boksburg on Gauteng’s East Rand this morning. Zille has been facing criticism for appointing an all male Members of the Executive Council or MECs to her cabinet in the province.
Matebesi says the composition of the DA led Western Cape cabinet is not constitutionally sound because of lack of gender representation. “Surely that is definitely shocking for South Africa and it is definitely an exceptional case and the question there is yes, Zille together with the the collective leadership, does have the power to change this if constitutionally speaking if they want to at least operate within the confines of the constitution of South Africa.”
Meanwhile, Zille has brushed off the criticism over the composition of her cabinet.
“The DA is a party in which leaders can get to the top if they add value and use their opportunities and win the confidence of their colleagues, because they are seen to be able to do the job that is required. That applies to everybody and that is why we are a party of open opportunities. Many women have gone very fast and very far in the DA.”
Zille added: “I am obviously the National Leader of the DA and as far as I am concerned the ANC was never led by a woman. We have Lindiwe Mazibuko as parliamentary Leader, Patricia De Lille as our Mayor in the City of Cape Town and many women who sit as shadow ministers in the National Parliament”.
– By Mercedes Besent
