Sometimes 'hard decisions' were made even if 'unpopular'-Dyantyi

By Tarryn Le Chat
12 October 2006

Housing and Local Government MEC, Richard Dyantyi, says he has no problem should the City of Cape Town seek to challenge his decision to change the mayoral system through the legal process.

Dyantyi was speaking after an international housing conference where he said that sometimes he needed to make hard decisions even if they were unpopular.

Asked by the Cape Times whether or not there was ANC consensus at his decision, Dyantyi said he received a lot of support including the ANC.

The National Cabinet were discussing the issue the same day that Dyantyi made his comments.

Government spokesperson, Themba Maseko said that while the ramifications such as a decision could have on democracy in South Africa had not been discussed; the cabinet feels that the Western Cape provincial government was legally able to change the system.

Dyantyi requested individual meetings with councillors from all represented political parties next week where he could ‘personally convey’ his views about the proposed change.

Mayoral spokesperson, Robert MacDonald, said that the city council was still consulting with its legal team to determine whether it was in its best interest to meet Dyantyi.

MacDonald could not say whether the meetings, scheduled for October 17th, would be open to the public.