Chairperson, the Western Cape provincial government, led by the DA, is turning into an institution where sexual harassment and racism, particularly against black women, is becoming the order of the day. There have been numerous allegations of sexual harassment of women by senior managers in the provincial legislature, including by a well-known member of the provincial cabinet, who has been accused of sexual harassment of employees since 2002.
It is a disturbing fact that even with such a background that person secured appointment as a member of the executive committee performing the duties of being a community safety, security and liaison MEC. This shows a lack of leadership on the part of the DA in the province. It also shows a lack of the will to initiate gender-sensitive programmes and to be sensitive to the needs of women and the challenges that they face.
The DA's hypocrisy has been exposed by this fact, that a person purported to be a serial sexual harasser finds his way into the cabinet. According to the DA, there is one rule for public representatives of the ANC and one rule for their own public representatives. It is quite evident that the hunger for power is the overriding consideration for the DA. [Applause.]