In their claims of being sensitive to the interests of the poor, how do they justify the wards allocation of the City of Cape Town in the 2013-14 financial year, in predominantly white areas, for example, ward 77, Cape Town CBD; ward 74, Hout Bay; and ward 54, Sea Point, allocated a capital budget of R171 million? Out of this amount, 8,1%, which amounts to R13,9 million, is earmarked for two black areas located in these wards, known as Hangberg and Imizamo Yethu, informal settlements. When people protest against the nondelivery of services, the ANC gets accused of instigating the masses, yet their own racist and skewed allocation of the capital budget speaks volumes.
It is therefore not surprising that poor communities, both urban and rural, are up in arms against the undemocratic and racist tendencies of the DA-led province that treats black people like animals.
Another example of how the DA treats the poor communities of the Western Cape with contempt is the Integrated Rapid Transit project, IRT, the My City project. For instance, the total allocation for the Integrated Rapid Transit implementation and operation is R803 million, and only 13% of that amount is going to black townships. In the 2012-13 financial year, the actual operating costs at the end of February 2013 were R35 million and the revenue generated was only R3 million. In essence, the City is running at a deficit of R32 million in one financial year. This service has not been introduced to black communities and it goes without saying that it will not be cheaper, considering the astronomical deficit in one financial year.
Regarding the targeted December 2013 timeline for the roll-out of My City services in Khayelitsha, it is not going to see the light of day because, to date, no public hearings have been conducted. The interaction with the taxi industry has not yet resulted in the signing of a memorandum of understanding, but in more questions and dissatisfaction from the taxi industry. Know your DA.
The DA members in this House must tell the nation if the following sad story is not racism, and is not a continuation of the 1913 Land Act against the poor and destitute in the Western Cape. Approximately 300 families residing in Philippi are almost destitute and some are about to lose their houses because of the double standards of the DA. These tenants were afforded the first opportunity to buy the Small Business Development Corporation, SBDC, that was part of the debentured properties by the Department of Trade and Industry, DTI. The tenants had no money and later approached the City. A structure called the Philippi Eastern Development Innovation, Pedi, was formed and appointed to assist these tenants.