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Helen

South Africa
www.zoopy.com/Helen Member since May 2007

Comments I've made

  • By Helen on PADLAC smear campaign speech:

    2 years ago

    Please note – the court case on this matter will be heard in the Mitchell's Plain Magistrate's Court on 26 October 2007. HZ

  • By Helen on Court case update:

    2 years ago

    Please note – the court case on this matter will be heard in the Mitchell's Plain Magistrate's Court on 26 October 2007. HZ

  • By Helen on Helen discusses floor crossing:

    2 years ago

    Dear Ubuntu<br><br>
    Thank you for being forthright about your point of view.When it comes to us taking away sub-councils from the ANC, you should note the following facts.<br><br>1) The agreement with Minister Mufamadi covered the previous council as constituted after the elections up until the floor-crossing. After the floor-crossing, the council is reconstituted, and a new set of rules apply for the establishment of sub-councils. The ANC changed the law to allow this. The Municipal Structures Act says that after an election, sub-councils have to be made up of the same ratio of proportional representative (PR) councillors as the ward councillors included in a sub-council. So if there are 5 wards in a sub-council, and 3 of the ward councillors are DA, 1 ID, and 1 ANC, then there has to be 3 DA, 1 ID and 1 ANC PR councillor as well. However, the ANC introduced a new rule in the Municipal Structures Act which says that after a floor-crossing, PR councillors can be distributed much more freely around sub-councils. This enabled the ANC in 2002 to take 16 sub-councils held by the DA and re-arrange them into 20 all held by the ANC.<br><br>2) The ANC therefore needs to learn that when it makes laws, it must make these laws not simply to benefit itself in the short-term, but make them in such a way that when it is not in power, it will also be protected. Perhaps the ANC will now consider scrapping this law, and hopefully floor-crossing in its current form as well.The same applies with the Executive Mayoral system – the ANC introduced the Executive Mayoral system when they were in power. They were happy with it. But when they lost they wanted the Executive Committee system back. MEC Dyantyi tried to bring that system back in an effort to unseat the Multi-Party Government. The ANC also attacked the DA because we had stated our preference for the Executive Committee System ahead of the elections. However, this would have cost us our position. Our number 1 mandate from the voters is to provide an alternative to the ANC, and this must take precedence over the issue of the Executive Mayoral system versus the Executive Committee system. Finally, I would like to point out that the ANC is not excluded from government. The opposition is a critical part of the government in a democracy – both as a watchdog and as an alternative source of critical input. The DA fulfils this role in parliament, and we are proud of what we do. The ANC needs to learn to do the same in Cape Town.<br><br>HZ

  • By Helen on Subcouncils reconstitute - Part 2:

    2 years ago

    Dear Ubuntu<br><br>
    Thank you for being forthright about your point of view.When it comes to us taking away sub-councils from the ANC, you should note the following facts.<br><br>1) The agreement with Minister Mufamadi covered the previous council as constituted after the elections up until the floor-crossing. After the floor-crossing, the council is reconstituted, and a new set of rules apply for the establishment of sub-councils. The ANC changed the law to allow this. The Municipal Structures Act says that after an election, sub-councils have to be made up of the same ratio of proportional representative (PR) councillors as the ward councillors included in a sub-council. So if there are 5 wards in a sub-council, and 3 of the ward councillors are DA, 1 ID, and 1 ANC, then there has to be 3 DA, 1 ID and 1 ANC PR councillor as well. However, the ANC introduced a new rule in the Municipal Structures Act which says that after a floor-crossing, PR councillors can be distributed much more freely around sub-councils. This enabled the ANC in 2002 to take 16 sub-councils held by the DA and re-arrange them into 20 all held by the ANC.<br><br>2) The ANC therefore needs to learn that when it makes laws, it must make these laws not simply to benefit itself in the short-term, but make them in such a way that when it is not in power, it will also be protected. Perhaps the ANC will now consider scrapping this law, and hopefully floor-crossing in its current form as well.The same applies with the Executive Mayoral system – the ANC introduced the Executive Mayoral system when they were in power. They were happy with it. But when they lost they wanted the Executive Committee system back. MEC Dyantyi tried to bring that system back in an effort to unseat the Multi-Party Government. The ANC also attacked the DA because we had stated our preference for the Executive Committee System ahead of the elections. However, this would have cost us our position. Our number 1 mandate from the voters is to provide an alternative to the ANC, and this must take precedence over the issue of the Executive Mayoral system versus the Executive Committee system. Finally, I would like to point out that the ANC is not excluded from government. The opposition is a critical part of the government in a democracy – both as a watchdog and as an alternative source of critical input. The DA fulfils this role in parliament, and we are proud of what we do. The ANC needs to learn to do the same in Cape Town.<br><br>HZ

  • By Helen on Subcouncils reconstitute - Part 1:

    2 years ago

    Dear Ubuntu<br><br>
    Thank you for being forthright about your point of view.When it comes to us taking away sub-councils from the ANC, you should note the following facts.<br><br>1) The agreement with Minister Mufamadi covered the previous council as constituted after the elections up until the floor-crossing. After the floor-crossing, the council is reconstituted, and a new set of rules apply for the establishment of sub-councils. The ANC changed the law to allow this. The Municipal Structures Act says that after an election, sub-councils have to be made up of the same ratio of proportional representative (PR) councillors as the ward councillors included in a sub-council. So if there are 5 wards in a sub-council, and 3 of the ward councillors are DA, 1 ID, and 1 ANC, then there has to be 3 DA, 1 ID and 1 ANC PR councillor as well. However, the ANC introduced a new rule in the Municipal Structures Act which says that after a floor-crossing, PR councillors can be distributed much more freely around sub-councils. This enabled the ANC in 2002 to take 16 sub-councils held by the DA and re-arrange them into 20 all held by the ANC.<br><br>2) The ANC therefore needs to learn that when it makes laws, it must make these laws not simply to benefit itself in the short-term, but make them in such a way that when it is not in power, it will also be protected. Perhaps the ANC will now consider scrapping this law, and hopefully floor-crossing in its current form as well.The same applies with the Executive Mayoral system – the ANC introduced the Executive Mayoral system when they were in power. They were happy with it. But when they lost they wanted the Executive Committee system back. MEC Dyantyi tried to bring that system back in an effort to unseat the Multi-Party Government. The ANC also attacked the DA because we had stated our preference for the Executive Committee System ahead of the elections. However, this would have cost us our position. Our number 1 mandate from the voters is to provide an alternative to the ANC, and this must take precedence over the issue of the Executive Mayoral system versus the Executive Committee system. Finally, I would like to point out that the ANC is not excluded from government. The opposition is a critical part of the government in a democracy – both as a watchdog and as an alternative source of critical input. The DA fulfils this role in parliament, and we are proud of what we do. The ANC needs to learn to do the same in Cape Town.<br><br>HZ

  • By Helen on FIFA and Green Point stadium visit:

    2 years ago

    Dear Kirland - Thank you for asking the hard questions. Here is the reason: Newlands can hold 50 000, but we need to host 68 000. Also, for the FIFA Soccer World Cup to work, there needs to be at least 500 metres clear in all directions around the stadium to manage crowds and media. Newlands is closed in by houses on all sides, so would not meet this requirement. What really clinches the deal for the City, though, is that for a relatively small investment, we will get R2 bn from Province and National Government for the Stadium, and another R7 bn for transport and other infrastructure. If we did not build a new stadium to accommodate a semi-final match, then Cape Town would have lost out on a lot of this money, which would have gone to other cities instead. HZ

  • By Helen on FIFA and Green Point stadium visit:

    2 years ago

    Dear Buck- Thank you for your vote of confidence, it is always encouraging to hear from people who have faith in our city and country. It's great to see that 2010 is even inspiring our artists, not just sports fanatics! I am glad that you have chosen to stick with South Africa, it looks like your painting skills can be put to good use here. I'm also glad that you have realised that you don't have to be in London or Paris to access the overseas market – just get your paintings out there through Zoopy or Facebook. Who knows, maybe you can make art lovers out of the sports fans too. HZ

  • By Helen on Nice to meet you 2.0 (Helen Zille):

    2 years ago

    Dear Lycanthrope: I am glad that you have enjoyed these video clips. As you can see they are very unprepared and the camera person, who is my spokesperson, is better on the other side of the camera or microphone. Still, the reason that I set this site up is to experiment with this medium, which is as much a standard form of communication now as radio and TV. I agree that we need to get round Telkom's monopoly. The City of Cape Town is embarking on an exciting project to make this Africa's first wireless city, so if you live here you may be able to benefit from this in a few years' time. HZ

  • By Helen on On being mayor and leader of the DA:

    2 years ago

    Everyone else here: Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts. I'll reply individually via Zoopy Email :) HZ

  • By Helen on On being mayor and leader of the DA:

    2 years ago

    Dear Mzakker: Thanks for being the first one on my profile, and thank you for your wishes! HZ

Comments on my media:

  • By Helen on Subcouncils reconstitute - Part 1:

    2 years ago

    Dear Ubuntu<br><br>
    Thank you for being forthright about your point of view.When it comes to us taking away sub-councils from the ANC, you should note the following facts.<br><br>1) The agreement with Minister Mufamadi covered the previous council as constituted after the elections up until the floor-crossing. After the floor-crossing, the council is reconstituted, and a new set of rules apply for the establishment of sub-councils. The ANC changed the law to allow this. The Municipal Structures Act says that after an election, sub-councils have to be made up of the same ratio of proportional representative (PR) councillors as the ward councillors included in a sub-council. So if there are 5 wards in a sub-council, and 3 of the ward councillors are DA, 1 ID, and 1 ANC, then there has to be 3 DA, 1 ID and 1 ANC PR councillor as well. However, the ANC introduced a new rule in the Municipal Structures Act which says that after a floor-crossing, PR councillors can be distributed much more freely around sub-councils. This enabled the ANC in 2002 to take 16 sub-councils held by the DA and re-arrange them into 20 all held by the ANC.<br><br>2) The ANC therefore needs to learn that when it makes laws, it must make these laws not simply to benefit itself in the short-term, but make them in such a way that when it is not in power, it will also be protected. Perhaps the ANC will now consider scrapping this law, and hopefully floor-crossing in its current form as well.The same applies with the Executive Mayoral system – the ANC introduced the Executive Mayoral system when they were in power. They were happy with it. But when they lost they wanted the Executive Committee system back. MEC Dyantyi tried to bring that system back in an effort to unseat the Multi-Party Government. The ANC also attacked the DA because we had stated our preference for the Executive Committee System ahead of the elections. However, this would have cost us our position. Our number 1 mandate from the voters is to provide an alternative to the ANC, and this must take precedence over the issue of the Executive Mayoral system versus the Executive Committee system. Finally, I would like to point out that the ANC is not excluded from government. The opposition is a critical part of the government in a democracy – both as a watchdog and as an alternative source of critical input. The DA fulfils this role in parliament, and we are proud of what we do. The ANC needs to learn to do the same in Cape Town.<br><br>HZ

  • By ubuntu on Helen discusses floor crossing:

    2 years ago

    Now that you have broken your promise not to bribe people to cross the floor to the DA, I call on the ID and the ACDP, who are not happy with the DA's latest powergrab to break up the so called "multiparty" coalition government. It is possible for there to be a governing coalition led by the ANC-ID-ACDP-AMP that can elect a new NON-executive mayor under an executive committee system that should have 5 DA, 4 ANC and 1 ID members.

  • By ubuntu on Subcouncils reconstitute - Part 1:

    2 years ago

    This amounts to apartheid all over again. This unilateral move to reconstitute subcouncils by kicking out black Africans from five of them leaving them with only two left is no different than the recalcitrance of Ian Smith and his Rhodesian UDI where he could defy the rest of the world in the same manner you are defying the rest of the country by taking back Cape Town for the DA and the whites. Cape Town has indeed become an island separated from the rest of the country and it is an island that will lead to economic decline and a ring of fire of resentment from those who have been excluded and marginalised by your imperialist mayorality.

  • By ubuntu on PADLAC smear campaign speech:

    2 years ago

    No politician despite whatever affiliation should support vigilantes. This reminds me of the days when Vakplaas supported Inkatha vigilantes in Natal against the people in the 1980's

  • By ubuntu on Court case update:

    2 years ago

    What you did in Mitchell's Plain was foolish and will not improve already strained relations with the province and the rest of the country. You should do the time if you did the crime. You are no different than the rest of us despite your media relations skills.

  • By ubuntu on Subcouncils reconstitute - Part 2:

    2 years ago

    Mrs. Zille you will come to regret your foolish decision to renege on an agreement with Local Government Minister Sydney Mafumadi and Provincial MEC Richard Dyantyi in which there would be an additional 2 subcouncils in areas formerly designated for Africans under apartheid. But instead you decided to kick out 5 African subcoucillors to replace them with members of your shaky coalition that is a form a patronage that you preach against when it is directed primarily against people of color. That is where you wanted to put your puppet ID people safely out of reach of your white mayoral committee, which is DA dominated. How desperate you must be to cling to power. What you did with the subcouncils will be challenged in the courts.

    I hope that the ANC will rake you over the coals for this one. The very least that the MEC can do is to reinstate his original position to dissolve the mayoral committee and to replace it with a far more racially inclusive executive committee system. As for your media charged antics with regard to Padlac and how you have tried to divide black people along ethnic lines by ignoring the plight of gangsterism in African townships while focusing your attention on Mitchell's Plain is divisive and racist.

    Given your illegal gerrymandering of subcouncils and the way you have served the whites in the council against the poor, I intend never to vote for the DA or the Dark Ages party ever again and will vote ANC in 2009. It is only the ANC that can put a stop to this nonsense and they will smash the DA and it's ID puppets in the provincial election.

  • By Coleurnoir on Helen responds to Metro disruption:

    2 years ago

    I totally agree; mass action in any form should be a last resort. It shouldn't even be considered, unless all avenues have been exhausted. I fully support their suspension, and any other legal actions that may be taken against them.

  • By Helen on FIFA and Green Point stadium visit:

    2 years ago

    Dear Kirland - Thank you for asking the hard questions. Here is the reason: Newlands can hold 50 000, but we need to host 68 000. Also, for the FIFA Soccer World Cup to work, there needs to be at least 500 metres clear in all directions around the stadium to manage crowds and media. Newlands is closed in by houses on all sides, so would not meet this requirement. What really clinches the deal for the City, though, is that for a relatively small investment, we will get R2 bn from Province and National Government for the Stadium, and another R7 bn for transport and other infrastructure. If we did not build a new stadium to accommodate a semi-final match, then Cape Town would have lost out on a lot of this money, which would have gone to other cities instead. HZ

  • By Helen on FIFA and Green Point stadium visit:

    2 years ago

    Dear Buck- Thank you for your vote of confidence, it is always encouraging to hear from people who have faith in our city and country. It's great to see that 2010 is even inspiring our artists, not just sports fanatics! I am glad that you have chosen to stick with South Africa, it looks like your painting skills can be put to good use here. I'm also glad that you have realised that you don't have to be in London or Paris to access the overseas market – just get your paintings out there through Zoopy or Facebook. Who knows, maybe you can make art lovers out of the sports fans too. HZ

  • By Buck on FIFA and Green Point stadium visit:

    2 years ago

    Hi Helen - Let me add my congtrats! With you at the helm I am sure we can do it. You ,Thabo, Trevor, and a few other sterling (sorry, Rand!) types helped me make the choice to stay in South Africa, although my particular artistic talents are more appreciated in Europe and America. I hope you will take some time out to view my photo on this site - an artistic impression of the Greenpoint stadium for a bit of light relief and a spot of tongue-in-cheek humour. It has been chosen by the Zoopy guys as pic of the month so I am thrilled that I am at last getting some local recognition!I have added you as a "friend" - hope that's ok. all the best, Viv King (alias, "Buck")