"I cannot find words to describe my disgust at this ruthless exploitation of all the people in this province," she said at the provincial launch of the ID in Cape Town on Saturday.

"We have had three premiers in this province during the same term.... the capital city of the province has had four mayors, the only city in this country ever to have so many mayors during the same term.

"The question is, 'Did these changes make us a better province and/or city?' We don't need an answer to this question because we know that all the people in this province have suffered the most as a result of this rearranging the chairs on a sinking ship," she said.

"Nothing but a bunch of political lightweights have surfaced to govern ordinary, decent and hardworking people in this province. We all deserve and must demand better from our leadership.

"The ID is saying that enough is enough! We are here today to put an end to the nonsense and to start a process whereby the membership of the ID have started engaging local organisations across the province to make our presence felt."

Turning to the ongoing controversy over fishing rights and permits, De Lille said the ID would not allow policy and legislation to reduce honest people to beggars and burglars.

"Furthermore, at the bottom of all this is a large measure of underhand dealings in the allocation of fishing rights to current and past ANC politicians.

"This behaviour is supported by the ruling party and some of its very senior members in this province.

"Quick donations here and there to the ANC seem to fix any or all fishing quota problem. Any ID member, who becomes guilty of this kind of conduct when we govern this province, will be booted out of this party without ceremony.

"We must create a culture of hard work, innovation, lawfulness and honesty in this country," De Lille said.

Published in the Sunday Times