So Many Questions: Peter Marais

Western Cape political veteran Peter Marais is back in the news with a movement to fight for the rights of coloured people. Chris Barron asked him...

Are we seeing a comeback?

No, I will not walk in front. I will be part of the energy that powers this third force, if it comes about. I, as vice-president, was given the task of steering the political side of the movement.

Not a party?

No, the triple B [Bruin Bemag-tigingsbeweging - Coloured Empowerment Movement] will not become a political party.

So it will be like Agang - just a movement?

Correct.

What's the point of a movement without representation in parliament or a provincial legislature?

Well, a movement like [Frederik] van Zyl Slabbert had, or the Black Sash, or even the Broederbond, if I may mention it, they were very powerful behind the scenes without actually fighting elections.

You're going to be a Broederbond for coloureds?

I won't shy away from that. I want to see coloured people in important, senior positions.

Aren't they already? They're running Cape Town and much of the province.

No, no, no. You can have delegated powers, which are powers that anybody can take back at any time. [Western Cape premier] Helen [Zille] decides who's in the cabinet. Coloureds don't have power.

Patricia de Lille's the executive mayor of Cape Town. What are you talking about?

Yes, but she must look carefully after her job. I was mayor too, until Tony [Leon] told me: 'You're the mayor, but I'm the leader of the DA.'

Why did he get rid of you?

Well, I think that Tony and I had two different styles of management. He believed in controlling everything and I said: 'I will not be micro-managed by you.'

Wasn't it because you cocked up?

Tell me what I did?

You bungled the whole street-renaming process, for instance.

His commission found me not guilty.

How many streets did you rename?

I didn't rename any streets.

And weren't there sexual harassment charges against you?

No, there were no such charges against me when I was mayor.

Was that only later when you became premier?

That was later and that's a different story.

Do coloured people really need you to fight for their rights? What about the DA?

Who in the DA has even ventured to raise their voices in favour of coloured people not being discriminated against?

What about De Lille? At least she's shown she can build consensus.

Consensus is weak government, did you know that?

You don't think she's been effective in Cape Town?

Yes, I would say she's been doing excellent work in terms of service delivery, but she's done nothing to speak out for coloured people.

Coloured people vote for her. How strong is your constituency?

That will only be quantified if there should be an election. Nobody knows your support until they've cast votes.

How can they vote for you if you're not a party?

A political party may emerge after our conference in June, galvanising the coloured people into a third force. Coloured people are now demanding a third force. If they can come together, 4.8million of them, and say enough is enough ...

Isn't this why they voted DA?

They did vote for the DA and now they're disappointed. Almost 80% of the top structure is still white.

In the Western Cape?

Yes, the heads of department, the officials, the public servants ...

Most of the officials and public servants I see in the Western Cape are coloured.

This is what you see and what I see, but this is not what came out in the report that was published quite extensively ...

And which Zille has challenged?

Yes, she's denied it. But in politics facts mean nothing; perceptions mean everything.

How do you know coloureds want a third force? Have you asked them?

You've got no idea how many people contact me daily.

Won't you split the coloured vote and allow the ANC back in?

Yes, in the Western Cape it will mostly hurt the DA.

Will that help coloured people?

I don't know. It could become a hung parliament in the Western Cape and this will make both the ANC and the DA dependent on the BBB, or any party that might be launched.

Would you form an alliance with the ANC?

I don't have a crystal ball, but everything in politics comes down to what is in the best interests of the people you represent.

Are you being driven by the interests of the people or plain old egotism?

Well, I don't have a sense of self-importance, if that's what you mean.

Didn't you want to erect loudspeakers so everyone in the city would hear you?

No. I had a plan to fight crime, but you tell journalists your plan and they take the mickey out of you.