Dan Plato becomes an MEC

2011-05-30 12:44

Cape Town - Former Cape Town Mayor Dan Plato will take up the position of MEC for community safety in the Western Cape provincial government, premier Helen Zille said on Monday.

"I am confident that he will make a major contribution, not only to the community safety portfolio, but to the provincial cabinet as a whole," Zille said.

"His specific skills in building partnerships will be extremely valuable as we implement our new approach to extending community safety."

Zille announced the new appointments, made necessary by the appointment of former MEC for social development, Patricia de Lille, as Cape Town's new mayor.

Former community safety MEC Albert Fritz will replace De Lille in social development and Plato replaces Fritz.

"I am confident that these changes will make our cabinet an even stronger team and I look forward to continue working with all the MECs in serving the citizens of the Western Cape," Zille said.

Plato was at the centre of the storm during his tenure as Cape Town mayor over the open toilets built in Makhaza, Khayelitsha.
The opposition in the Western Cape, the ANC, criticised Plato's new appointment as a "clear demonstration of jobs for pals" and said it represented the "highest form of chauvinism".

"Women in the Western Cape continue to be excluded from opportunity and decision making on the basis of race, class and gender," party secretary Songezo Mjongile said.

"Zille deems women to be good enough just as poster-girls."

Mjongile said Plato had a history of "employing force rather than reason".

"His policy of fighting fire with fire has failed completely to deal with issues of safety and security. Many incidents were recorded of hostility, brutality and shootings while he was mayor of Cape Town."

- SAPA