By A'eysha Kassiem
In a split in the African National Congress-led tripartite alliance, Cosatu says it supports Democratic Alliance Mayor Helen Zille's freeze on the proposed 2010 World Cup stadium at Green Point.
The labour federation has broken ranks to welcome the opportunity for "a more comprehensive discussion".
Earlier, ANC Western Cape secretary Mcebisi Skwatsha slammed Zille, saying her "illogical excuses for the unnecessary delay are causes of grave concern".
| 'A more comprehensive discussion' |
ANC premier Ebrahim Rasool has condemned Zille as being "irresponsible in the extreme" and says he is to provide R10-million from provincial coffers to prevent stadium plans being "derailed".
But Cosatu's Western Cape secretary, Tony Ehrenreich, said on Wednesday: "Our support for the World Cup is on condition that it promotes employment, especially in the underdeveloped areas. The poor can't continue subsidising the rich in Cape Town."
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Cosatu said the funding of the World Cup should not "lead to under-funding of service delivery" and Fifa should not "dictate how to plan and develop our country".
Zille is to meet Rasool and Fifa's local organising committee (LOC) for the 2010 World Cup on Thursday.
The meeting follows public differences between Zille and Rasool over the proposal to build a stadium in Green Point.
| 'A more carefully considered plan' |
But Cosatu is demanding "a more carefully considered plan" of how the World Cup will promote development.
Zille said she "looked forward to discussing the financial implications" of the stadium.
"I have stated that we cannot start signing contracts worth millions of rand until we have been given adequate information on how much the stadium will cost and how it will be paid for," Zille said.
"Thus far we have not been given a proper financial model to work with and it would be irresponsible to proceed without one.
"I hope that our meeting (on Thursday) will provide us with that information."
Zille also hit back at the ANC, saying: "It is unfortunate that certain quarters of the ANC have decided to react with panic and anger over the city's decision to proceed cautiously... we do not believe in gambling with ratepayers' money."
Political analyst Keith Gottschalk said the outcome of today's meeting would be a good indication of how city and province work together.
Political scientist Zwelethu Jolobe said: "There are many issues such as budgets and housing that overlap. The province and the city have said they want to work together, but that does not mean there will not be disagreements."
Jolobe said that the tensions were mostly about the relationship between the DA and the ANC.
- This article was originally published on page 1 of Cape Times on March 30, 2006
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