4 April 2013
As some people enjoyed the Easter break with families, in pristine holiday destinations or in places of worship; over 200 families in Western Cape townships such as Gugulethu, Philippi and Langa battled raging fires which caused untold damage. Working class families living backyard dwelllings and shack settlements spent sleepless nights fighting devastating fires fanned by excessive winds and now remain without proper shelter. Many have lost their belongings including official documentation such as Identity Documents, certificates etc.
These incidents happen barely a week after the MEC of Human Settlements, Bonginkosi Madikizela, delivered his budget speech marked by spices of prevarication and illusions of delivery of housing and basic services. As the SACP we rejected the flawed illusions of housing and basic services delivery by MEC Madikizela and the daily experiences of our people confirm our view that the Democratic Alliance has failed to deliver and restore the dignity of working class communities.
The same devastating fires broke out in Khayelitsha BM section on New Year`s day and to-date families still do not have decent houses. Fire victims in Khayamandi in Stellenbosch are still reeling from the fire disaster and are rebuilding their structures without the help of the provincial government. It is shameful that the DA`s record in government since 2009 is littered with a litany of failures which result in the suffering of poor communities.
The DA has no Human Settlement Policy hence this evident inability to deliver and instead continuously reduce housing delivery and basic services targets. The mounting anger of communities expressed in protests is justified in light of this monumental failure to deliver houses and extend basic services by the DA in the Western Cape.
As the SACP, We find it astonishingly insensitive and senseless for the DA to blame victims of such fire disasters irresponsible when the real problem is that people do not have access to proper housing and safe electricity for heating and cooking. The has failed to address the fundamental structural problem of housing despite increased budget from National Government and instead boasts that it has given people temporary shelters which in any event become permanent as the DA does not construct houses for the poor.
The SACP will continue to intensify its organising and mobilization campaign of the working class communities to demonstrate their frustrations against the DA and demand proper houses, water, sanitation, refuse removal etc.
We support the residents of Mfuleni who protested yesterday demanding basic services such as electricity and water. As we honour April as Chris Hani Month we will hold public demonstrations culminating in a protest march to the Provincial Administration of the DA-led government to demand urgent delivery of houses and basic services for all.
Issued by Western Cape SACP
Contact:
SACP Provincial Secretary: Khaya Magaxa
Mobile: 083 7210221
OR
SACP Western Cape Media Liaison: Sonwabile Ngxiza
071 4511329