By Leila Samodien
The appointment of a new Western Cape premier was more likely to loosen the ANC's grip on the province in 2009's general elections than heal its rifts, opposition parties have said.
Independent Democrats provincial leader Sakkie Jenner believed the move would deepen the ANC's divisions even further.
Both the ID and the DA agreed that the appointment of Finance and Tourism MEC Lynne Brown would do nothing to enhance service delivery.
"The main concern for the ID is the effect these divisions and the lack of continuity will have on service delivery and the fight against poverty," said Jenner.
DA provincial leader Theuns Botha said the only changes that would be made in the months prior to the election would be "staff changes in the premier's office".
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In-fighting, which was unlikely to stop now, he said, would only lead to the ANC's self-destruction as the front -runner in the province.
"It is clear that the ANC is fast losing ground in the province and many of its current provincial members stand no chance of returning after the election, and their only remaining role is to ferment dissent," said Botha.
Freedom Front Plus leader in the Western Cape Cornz Mulder said the rifts in the ruling party were a "much deeper division", which would hurt them when voters hit the polls.
"The sacking of Premier Rasool, not only means the end of his premiership, but is also the beginning of the end of the ANC's control in and governing of the Western Cape.
A coalition of opposition parties will govern the Western Cape after next year's general election," he said.
Meanwhile, the ANC's alliance partner Cosatu issued a statement on Thursday assuring the party that it would support it, irrespective of who was appointed as premier in the Western Cape.
They recognised Rasool for his role in the liberation struggle and his efforts toward job creation, especially in the clothing and textiles industry.
However, it believed Rasool's sacking was an important step towards "getting the organisation back on track".
A statement by Cosatu said the divisions in the Western Cape "had paralysed the ANC and the government in service delivery", and the leadership had to be held to account.
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This article was originally published on page 5 of Cape Argus on July 24, 2008
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