'We have the best story to tell': Zille
The Western Cape has "the best story to tell", premier Helen Zille said during her state-of-the-province address on Friday.
Addressing the provincial legislature in Cape Town, she said progress had been made over the past five years in realising the vision of an open opportunity society for all.
"I believe that this is the Western Cape story. And it really is the good story to tell," she said to jeers from the opposition benches.
"We have the best story to tell."
An opposition member shouted "That's plagiarism", in reference to the African National Congress's election phrase "We have a good story to tell".
Zille said the story included a commitment to get rid of corruption that was "rife" in the provincial government in 2009.
Most importantly, the story was about expanding opportunities to the poorest citizens.
Zille's speech focused on the successes of government in the past five years, mirroring President Jacob Zuma's approach with his state-of-the-nation address last week.
She said the province had prioritised support to small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which was a vehicle for job creation and economic growth.
"Our various support interventions have facilitated and sustained around 11,400 jobs as a result of the establishment and expansion of around 3000 SMEs over the last three years."
Zille said nearly R1.7 billion had been spent on skills development programmes in the past five years and training had been provided to 98,327 people.
ANC MPL Khaya Magaxa heckled that he was still waiting for a good story to be told.
"You wouldn't know a good story if you fell over one," Zille responded.
- Sapa