Zille's men-only cabinet irks ANC

Helen Zille's Western Cape cabinet is an all-male outfit again, with former social development MEC Patricia de Lille becoming mayor of Cape Town and being replaced in the cabinet by Albert Fritz.

Fritz's post of community safety MEC has been filled by former Cape Town mayor Dan Plato.

The ANC denounced the reshuffle, announced yesterday, as "the highest form of chauvinism".

"Worse still, it is committed by a woman oppressing women," said Western Cape ANC secretary Songezo Mjongile. "Zille has shown to have no confidence of any women to be appointed in her cabinet."

"Women in Western Cape continue to be excluded from opportunity and decision-making on the basis of race, class and gender."

COPE is also unhappy. "Zille has proved time and time again that she does not care about the voice of the people on the ground," it said.

"Her Thatcherism blinds her from seeing that gender issues are paramount in how we redress the wrongs of our pasts. She sees females as only good for posters, but not real power."

But the DA - which has women as its leader, national spokesman and Cape Town mayor - said any changes Zille made would be criticised. Zille's spokesman, Tracey Venter, said: "We can't drive government on the basis of what critics say - and certainly not on the basis of what the ANC says.

"If the ANC is so self-righteous about the appointment of women, they should begin with some self-examination by looking at all the males they 'deployed' as mayors of major metros.

"The premier looked at the options and made a decision with her colleagues on what was most appropriate in the current context and what would be best for the provincial government."

Zille thanked "Ms De Lille for her dedication and exceptional achievements in the short period she served as the MEC for social development. I have every confidence that she will fulfil her role as executive mayor of Cape Town with great distinction.

"MEC Fritz has done an excellent job in his tenure at community safety. He will bring the same vigour, diligence and determination to his new portfolio."

Plato's skills in "building partnerships" would be valuable in the "new approach to extending community safety".

Fritz said: "My immediate priorities will be poverty alleviation, early childhood development and youth development . and [I] look forward to several transversal projects that will see these portfolios work side by side to make life safer and better for all in Western Cape."