Cape Town is the most divided and racist city in SA, according to Cosatu Western Cape secretary, Tony Ehrenreich.
He decried the sense of “them and us” which prevailed in the city, providing a privileged status to the rich at the expense of the poor.
The Cosatu leader alleged that the injustice was perpetuated by the DA led government in the city.
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“The political elites have chosen a side in this historical divide and it is reflected in the manner in which the city fathers and mothers relate to the different sections of Cape Town’s Communities. The Mayor goes and meets with the private developers to whom they give city land on the Atlantic seaboard, in their homes for lunch, whilst she wears gas mask when she goes to visit the communities on the Cape Flats.”
Ehrenreich addressed the Cape Town press club on Thursday, warning of rising levels of “social instability” that included crime and protests as a result of the city's failure to forge cohesion and bridge the social gap between its residents.
“Remind people that we are one nation that has all been affected by the past and we must work together to overcome the horrible legacy of the past. Our futures are intertwined and we must work together to undo the effect of neglect and preference that was a feature of apartheid, through a conscious programme of redress,” Ehrenreich said in his appeal to city leaders.
He called for service delivery to be prioritised in disadvantaged communities where there was urgent need than in other areas.
A number of initiatives were tabled in the address pointing to key areas of delivery which had to be focused on.
These included the extension of public transport services to the Cape Flats, resolution of housing allocation discrepancies and the empowerment of black workers and business owners.
“Greater need must determine the hierarchy of delivery, so that we respond to the social injury of decades of discrimination.
“Restructure the economy to provide jobs and opportunity for everyone, through redistribution of wealth that raises aggregate levels of demand. This alternative model of driving domestic demand through higher wages will bring greater equality and generate more disposable income in townships that will generate economic activities.”
Labour Bureau