Battle for City hots up as mayoral candidates slam the DA

Mayoral candidates for the Cape Metro slammed the DA on Sunday for failing to spend the City’s R40 billion budget, in a final round of rallying before the municipal elections later this week.

Candidates from the ACDP, Freedom Front Plus, ANC, EFF, IFP and UDM took their last swings at the DA-run City as the battle for Cape Town heated up.

ANC mayoral candidate Xolani Sotashe said the DA’s greatest failure has been its inability to eradicate the apartheid system that continues to perpetuate inequality, which is racially-based and which promotes disunity in the province.

“Currently, under the Democratic Alliance municipality, at senior management level of the City, white representation is sitting at 70 percent, compared to a white population of just over 15 percent in the province. That is a travesty of justice.”

Asked what he would differently, he replied: “The programme of building decent housing for our people is a huge priority for us. While the City always makes sure that it gives people back material to rebuild their shacks when they have been burnt by fire, year in and year out, effectively making this city the biggest builders of shacks. We will ensure that our people are given decent houses at a much faster pace than what is happening now.”

Sotashe said unlike the DA government, the ANC would spend all the City’s capital budgets, particularly grants on Human Settlements.

EFF candidate Bernard Joseph said it was ironic the DA criticised President Jacob Zuma for presenting Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) jobs as “work opportunities and not real jobs”.

“The DA sings the same song when it comes to the EPWP. The programme facilitates a form of menial employment, but the jobs are not sustainable.”

He said poverty alleviation does not work and he would propose that 50 percent of basic goods and services are sourced from within all EFF municipalities to ensure sustainable growth for all residents.

“The EFF would in-source all workers who perform municipality functions and would ensure that 40 percent of all investments in its jurisdiction would be administered by a community trust.”

Freedom Front Plus candidate André Fourie said his vision for the city was to scrap the sub-council system, which he said uses “minimum delegates”.

“The vision would be to give members of the communities a chance to be part of the decision-making processes that affect them. The DA does not allow for this.

“We also feel that 10 percent of the budget going to road infrastructure is far too little. Cape Town has a huge traffic congestion problem. We will also aim to alleviate rates and taxes. Every year, the DA puts up the rates without consulting the people. Another thing we will do is get rid of Cape Town Stadium, which is costing taxpayers.”

ACDP candidate Ferlon Christians echoed Fourie’s sentiments.

“The stadium is a white elephant. We will listen to ideas from the people once I have taken office as mayor.”

He also highlighted tackling unemployment, homelessness and prioritising the budget.

“The DA wasted R50 million on advertising during its tenure. That’s a wasteful expenditure.”

Current mayor and the DA’s mayoral candidate Patricia De Lille said: “To those fellow South Africans not yet living under DA government, I want to assure you today that if you lend us your vote for just five years and give a DA mayor a chance, you will never need to show your party membership cards when you seek services and apply for job opportunities.

“Your political affiliation is your choice and it is your right. The DA will defend that right because it goes to the heart of our vibrant democracy.

“But let me be clear that card must never, ever be used to determine whether you can access an important service owed to you or apply for a job opportunity that you should have a fair chance of getting.

“That, sadly, is not what is happening in municipalities across South Africa today. ANC administrations and their councillors would rather see your membership card, than your CV. They want to know how you can help them, instead of how they can help you.

De Lille said bribery, corruption and abuse of the most vulnerable members of our society is effectively the ANC’s service delivery and job creation strategy.

“There will be no place for this ANC strategy in your local government if you elect us for just five years.

“Those who bribe and manipulate and take advantage of our people for their own ends will be fired. Finish en klaar. The DA is committed to a fair government that delivers for all.”