Province in a good state

BY Mishkah Anthony
13 February 2009

Premier Lynne Brown started her first State of the Province Address by reflecting on the 15 years of democracy and what government has achieved. But also mentions that government cannot be blinded by their achievements but also remember the reality of improvised communities.

Premier Brown goes on to say that, "The City of Cape Town is not an island, nor is the Western Cape".

She referred to the recent taxi violence that occurred in the past week. Brown says the Province could have opted to play the game of politics and referred such problems to the City.
Browns says, "We realised that the Province, not the City, had the capacity to bring all the differences of opinion together. We took the lead in arranging mediation."

Brown says the Province invited the City to join in talks, so that together government could reach sustainable solutions. Brown even goes on to say that indeed, this kind of co-operative approach to governance has been the order of all Western Cape Provincial Government operations since she was sworn in as Premier almost seven months ago.