Winde's new beginning

A week ago I speculated who will feature in Alan Winde’s first Western Cape cabinet. As mentioned then Winde can be consistent and only appoint a replacement for any possible vacancies. Read previous blog here: Winde vote for consistency or change

During a recent interview the guy known as the “jobs”-Premier confirmed he will be re-configuring the current portfolio’s and also look bringing in new younger talent. As Winde puts it: “I am not going to be around forever and we need to prepare now already.”

In the interview Winde was clear that he is looking at re-configuring cabinet to align it with the DA manifesto and only once that part is complete one can start adding names.

The incoming Premier of the Western Cape is advocating for jobs, safer communities, education that does more than the basic and the arts and culture sector to be more than performing arts but a vehicle for job creation. I’ve taken this, along with the DA’s ideal 15 national ministries and came to the following reconfiguration of the provincial executive:

- Health and Social Development
- Cultural Affairs and Sport
- Finance
- Human Settlements
- Community Safety
- Transport and Integrated Planning
- Agriculture, Local Government and International Relations
- Education, Skills & Innovation
- Environmental Affairs & Planning
- Economic Opportunities, Assets & Facilities

Adding names to the portfolio's is not that easy, as it looks...
Bonginkosi Madikizela looks set to return to Human Settlements. 
Nomafrench Mbombo has been very successful in the health portfolio and one would want her to continue with that. Because you can link the two Social Development could be added here.

Anroux Marais has been doing well at Arts, Cultural Affairs & Sport. Who can forget in her first three months she became the first MEC to go swim with lifeguards.

A possible successor at Community Safety is the former chairperson of the standing committee, Mireille Wenger. She is familiar with the portfolio, competent and being a female counts in her favour. Being married to the whistle-blower in the Patricia de Lille-saga, Craig Kesson, might raise the eyebrows though and could make a few people uncomfortable.

Another option is Albert Fritz, who headed the ministry previously. He could possibly also head Transport and Integrated Planning, a portfolio Tertius Simmers could also be given. This was Simmers' portfolio as Garden Route District Municipality MMC.
Simmers could also be given Economic Opportunities, Assets and Facilities. A portfolio currently headed by Beverely Schafer, whom I'm speculating if she does not return to the executive becomes Chief Whip.

Another candidate for Chief Whip is Debbie Schafer. That is if she does not return to Education, Skills and Innovation. Leaving it vacant for Daylin Mitchell.

It is highly unlikely that Anton Bredell will not return to Environmental Affairs and Planning. If he does not... A likely portfolio for Bredell, who is provincial chairperson, would be to move to the vacant Chief Whip position. Some will consider this a demotion and others might raise concern at separating party and state - as both positions are administrative.

A prominent DA member, who served as shadow finance minister, is rumoured to have his eye on the finance ministry.
David Maynier was Winde's campaign manager and is fit for purpose. I have no doubt that he will be included in the executive. 
The trick is that the finance portfolio is viewed as second most important after that of the premier, and both these occupied by white men in a coloured majority province is sending the wrong message.

This means dr. Ivan Meyer could head Agriculture, Local Government and International Relations. Meyer is the DA's deputy federal chairperson and most senior coloured leader in the party and has a good relationship with all three sectors.

As previously said another strong contender for Chief Whip is Andricus van der Westhuizen. The move by the former MP to the provincial legislature is surely not to be closer to retirement. Should Mitchell not be included in the executive he could become deputy Chief Whip. This is the DA showing confidence in the next generation.

Van der Westhuizen could likely also be deputy speaker. He was once upon a time the speaker of Stellenbosch Municipality. Another possible candidate for this position is Masizole Mnqasela, whose promotion is longer overdue.

In the fifth parliament the second most senior portfolio was occupied by a coloured woman. Considering that the former deputy speaker, Piet Pretorius, retired it is highly unlikely the DA will replace Sharna Fernandez as speaker.
For a first term member and speaker she did well. With the Patricia de Lille-saga still fresh, not retaining Fernandez is opening a can of worms and critics will have a field day "attacking" the DA of how people of colour, especially woman, are rejected/demoted if they become too popular.

The humble golden boy of the Valley

I was privileged to attend the memorial service of Tinus Linee on Thursday 6^th November 2014

WHO WAS TINUS

Linee was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in April 2013 and sadly passed away on Monday 3 November 2014, aged 45, at his home in Paarl.

Marthinus "Tinus" Linee was a South African rugby player, who predominantly played centre. He played all his provincial rugby for Western Province and represented Western Province and the Stormers in Super Rugby. He played nine tour games for the Springboks between 1993 and 1994, but never played in a test for South Africa.

Linee attended Nederburg Primary School along with his future wife, Diana. This is the same school that delivered the likes of former Springbok Chester Williams and former Springbok coach Peter de Villiers.

TRIBUTES

Even before listening to the tributes, as you enter the hall, the attendance by the Paarl community spoke volumes of the golden boy of the valley – as one speaker described him.

Speaker after speaker spoke of a humble person, someone who believed, lived his dream and inspired others.

“Tinus proved how to realise dreams and to strive towards good things,” says adv. Gesie van Deventer, executive mayor of Drakenstein, in a letter to Linee’s widow, Diana.

Executive deputy mayor, Conrad Poole, described him as an ambassador of his own life, who never lost focus.

In his message of encouragement to the mourners, Father Grant Walters said “if you believe something, you live it and Tienie believed and lived as a Christian.”

Hon. Gert Oosthuizen, deputy minister of Sport and Recreation, in his keynote address said to an extend Tinus Linee was larger than live. “We should celebrate his success on and off the field.

Addressing the crowd dr. Nomafrench Mbombo, Western Cape Cultural Affairs and Sport MEC, said as the widow of a former rugby player herself, she recalls and can related to the pain of Diana. She appealed to the rugby community who stood by Linee, to continue supporting Diana now that Tinus is no longer there. “She will need the support now more than ever, don’t leave her behind and forget her.”

The minister apologised to the Linee family for being absent and not supporting them during the 18 months, when they needed her support the most. To his children she said they should remember he’s watching over them.

Mbombo started by saying she does not if Tinus knew what role-model he was for the youth. “He was a rock and role-model for society and our communities needs role-models.”

Breyton Paulse, program director, said in any tragic event, there’s a lesson to learn. “The lesson here is that Tinus Linee and Chester Williams have always been humble and that is the message to our youth, no matter what you achieve, to always remain humble.”

STATE FUNERAL

As the Memorial service started in Paarl, Acting Premier, Anton Bredell issued a statement saying the office of the Premier of the Western Cape takes note of a statement by the Presidency that it did not receive a request by Premier Helen Zille regarding the funeral of the late Linee. Bredell says the provincial government has decided to offer financial assistance for the funeral this coming Saturday in Paarl.

"President Jacob Zuma did not receive a letter from the government of the Western Cape requesting the granting of a provincial official funeral for former rugby player Mr Tinus Linee. The President once again extends his condolences to the family of Mr Linee," reads the statement by thepresidency.

Shortly after this the ANC Western Cape tweeted:

"the DA should stop making cheap party politics of the funeral of former Springbok and WP rugby player Tinus Linee."

"ANC demands of the premier and her cabinet to do whatever within their means to immediately come to the assistance of Linee’s family."

I attended the memorial service and mentioned the attendance alone said this was a Hero of the Valley, a role model for the youth. Reading the statements by both the presidency, office of the premier and ANC tweets I couldn't help but feel hurt and thought:

1) The debate to grant Tinus Linee a state funeral or not, is surely not who this humble smiling person was and it is definitely not how his loved ones would want to remember him. He was after all a down to heart person, a people’s person.

2) Would he have wanted all the big fuss? He’s probably the only rugby player who never left his birth place to go look for better opportunities and always remained humble.

3) Whether the premier sent the request to the president or not, surely the president took note or was advised about the outcry to declare an official funeral. If he did not take note or was not advised, I would be worried.

4) Is it not within the premiers powers to declare a provincial official funeral or should this be signed off by the president.

5) Was or is someone playing politics with the issue? If so, I think it is wrong as a community is still mourning.

6) When I heard the news of the passing of Tinus, my first thought was, he deserves a Civic funeral and now I wonder why the executive mayor did not declared one. I can recall other local heroes, who were role-models for society who received a Civic funeral.

7) Why are we playing the race card on this? 20 years into democracy this should not take place.

I strongly feel it is wrong of us as South African’s to compare the funeral of Tinus Linee to that of Senzo Meyiwa (Bafana Bafana captain who was murdered).

Meyiwa was at the time the current skipper of one of our national teams and in my humble opinion, it is only right to afford him a state funeral.

Linee, was a remarkable former rugby player, with a successful career and even though I support the proposal of a provincial funeral – I also think it is unfair to compare the two.

Whether he’s afforded an official funeral or not, that will not determine his legacy that should live on.

Or as executive deputy Mayor of Drakenstein Conrad Poole said: “may the tributes result in the creation of more Tinus Linee’s.