We all feel apartheid pain: Zille

DA leader Helen Zille says her party recognises the pain inflicted on blacks during apartheid.

"No one has a monopoly on pain. Our work as government is to assure that people exercise their freedoms," Zille said.

She was in Worcester to address a group of DA supporters and farmers and talk about the party's performance since it took over control of Western Cape in 2009.

She said Western Cape had spent 100% of its municipal infrastructure grant since coming to power.

Zille said the R455-million spent from the grant in 2012-2013 alone yielded 205 projects.

She said the DA's approach to redress meant those who suffered under apartheid would get a chance to pursue economic opportunities.

"A child who grows up in a squatter camp, without water, can't exercise her freedoms. Our job is to get education, healthcare and safety right if we want people to exercise their freedoms.

"These are all steps on a ladder that people have to climb ... through their own efforts," Zille said.

She conceded, however, that the DA had not performed as well as it had planned, missing its own targets on housing and other basic services.