'Er...Zille is NOT the premier'

2008-06-26 14:00

Verashni Pillay

Cape Town - Government authorities are embarrassed after a book publishing details of SA municipalities incorrectly listed DA leader Helen Zille as the Premier of the Western Cape.

Portfolio - Municipalities South Africa 2008 was exhibited in the foyer of the Cape Town City Council Offices when the error was spotted and reported on in Thursday's edition of Die Son.

But according to the publishers, Portfolio Business Publications (PBS) in Johannesburg, the book has been available since early this year.

Page two of the book contains a synopsis of the Western Cape - its premier is listed as Helen Zille; and the province as led by the DA. Page 317 again provides statistics with the same mistake.

Controversial history

The politics of the province have always been controversial. It was dominated by the New National Party until the party's 2004 merger with the ANC, which brought current premier Ebrahim Rasool to power.

Opposition leader Helen Zille has been mayor of Cape Town since March 2006. She has a strained relationship with the ANC-led provincial government who tried to downgrade her role in 2006.

The book, which features "a comprehensive and updated directory of the 283 municipalities in South Africa", was produced independently of the Department of Provincial and Local Government (DPLG).

Its publisher and PBS founder, Willie Ramoshaba, was not available for comment at the time of writing.

However DPLG spokesperson Thokozani Mtshali told News24 that while publishers had informed the department about their intention to compile the book, they were not affiliated with the department as the DPLG logo used on the front cover implied.

"I pointed out the error to them as early as January this year," said Mtshali. "At the time they told me they took some steps to remedy it by inserting a page that drew the reader's attention to the problem."

Fourteen not amended

However Cape Town copies of the publication were not amended and these were distributed to about 14 government institutions, according to Mtshali. "[PBS] say they are either writing or have written to them informing them of the error," said Mtshali.

According to PBS's website, 20 000 copies of the book were printed and circulated to government departments, JSE listed companies, SA embassies abroad and tertiary institutions amongst others.

DA spokesperson Frits de Klerk said the party was aware of the mistake. "I wish I could give you a humorous statement," he joked. "But it was just an error and obviously the editor didn't pick up on it."

Mtshali condemned the mistake, saying the publisher should have know better. "Even their printers are based in Cape Town, but you can't blame the printers because it should have been checked by a sub."

Rasool's office could not be reached for comment.

- News24