Cape Town - The ANC went on a charm offensive on the Cape Flats on Tuesday in a bid to woo voters ahead of the local government elections on August 3.
The party’s mayoral candidate, Xolani Sotashe, was flanked by former Western Cape premier Ebrahim Rasool as they went door to door, first in Heideveld and then to other Cape Flats communities,
Sotashe said they were focussing on the services delivered to residents, with a particular focus on backyard dwellers.
“We believe that taxpayers’ money is being wasted because those people have long experienced suffering. We visited backyard residents whose shacks have burnt down.
“They have seen absolutely no support from the city. We took some of the people’s details and we will be taking the matter further with the officials of the city.”
Sotashe added they also visited the City of Cape Town’s Heideveld housing project being built adjacent to the N2 highway.
“What we noticed when we went there was the poor work procedure.
“They reduced the square metres of most of the houses, handed over some unfinished houses and we found out that when people complain, they were told not to, due to the fact that they got the houses for free.
“That is unacceptable.
“In terms of the constitution, those people have the right to access decent housing.
“The government is putting in a lot of money, but the city is throwing it down the drain.”
Sotashe also said there was no point in people receiving free houses just to live uncomfortably.
They concluded their campaign on Tuesday with a visit to the home of late Struggle veteran Dullah Omar.
“This house has history for us. Members of the ANC used to gather here to plan for activities. I have been walking around with Rasool and he has also boosted this campaigning. We are adamant that next week, we will be victorious.”
Cape Argus