ANC says staff being "purged" in Western Cape

"Despite [provincial premier Helen] Zille's assurances to the contrary, she is still purging blacks from her administration and pursuing her refugee agenda," alleged member of the provincial legislature Lynne Brown.

She told reporters in Cape Town that the alleged removal of black staff who spoke out against Zille would be more "vigorously" looked at this year.

Brown could not give exact figures of those she claimed were affected, but said "many" staff members were in various stages of action at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).

She said staff were being removed because of procedural matters and not because they could not do their job.

"I can tell you now that I will be accused of being racist," she said. "The point is, all of us make up the Western Cape and we must be reflected within the leadership of the running of our lives."

In 2009, Zille came under fire from the Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) for her cabinet being all white and male.

Cosatu took Zille to the Equality Court but eventually dropped the complaint.

Brown's comments come two days before Zille delivers her state of the province address at the opening of the provincial legislature.

The premier's spokesman Zak Mbhele said he would be issuing a statement later in the day in response to the allegations.

Source: Sapa via I-Net Bridge