Zille tackles floor-crossing

2007-08-28 19:25

Cape Town - President Thabo Mbeki and Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille have met in Cape Town on Tuesday to discuss a range of current issues.

These included crime, skills shortages, floor-crossing, and the dismissal of the former deputy health minister Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge.

Zille, who is also mayor of Cape Town, said afterwards she raised her concerns about floor-crossing in the city.

"I did mention to him the particular complexities of the floor crossing in Cape Town," she said.

"(I) did express my hope that the African National Congress would not go into a coalition with a new party that is being formed by questionable elements."

Softer line on new DA boss

The current governing coalition between the DA and the Independent Democrats is facing an onslaught of by controversial city councillor Badhi Chaaban.

Mbeki, who seems to have softened his attitude towards the official opposition, particularly Zille, had the DA leader blushing before Tuesday's meeting when he fixed her collar as they lined up to pose for cameras.

A few weeks ago, Mbeki came out in defence of the DA leader when she was being booed while addressing a crowd at Lwandle in Cape Town during a Presidential imbizo, and gave her a handshake of support.

The President's attitude towards Zille is in sharp contrast to the one he displayed towards her predecessor, Tony Leon, whom Mbeki avoided meeting except once just before Leon gave up the post of DA leader.

City and Province must work together

While Mbeki did not indicate to the media the main issues he would be raising with Zille, he has previously complained about the poor relations between the ANC-led Western Cape provincial government and the DA-led City of Cape Town, saying it was imperative for them to work together if delivery challenges were to be addressed.

- SAPA