31 July 2014
The South African Communist Party in the Western Cape has noted the continuation of arrogance by the provincial department of Public works and some DA officials. Thus at 06h00 this morning( 31 July 2014) the community members of Grabouw led by the Grabouw Civic, parents and South African Communist Party (SACP) branch leaders led a protest march to Umyezo wama-apile combined school.
Today`s protest was a result of swelling tension within the community directed to arrogant contractors guided by individual accumulation to the detriment of the masses. Moreover Municipal officials who are DA aligned seem to once again be behind this political attempt to prevent the community in general from being part of the developmental project.
Notwithstanding the condemnation of Zille`s racist rhetoric, the SACP wishes to condemn the continuous divide and rule strategy of the DA in Grabouw in general and in the province in particular.
Furthermore, the contractors have been maliciously outsourcing labour despite the fact that the steering committee representing the community vehemently denounced this move from the onset.
This is taking place whilst there are many school projects which were awarded to the now liquidated Filcon and Vuselela construction. Thus the Filcon and Vuselela collapse exposes Western Cape Pubic Works of being run by corrupt DA officials who are using shady companies to bully working class communities.
The controversy surrounding this school is not new to the community of Grabouw. In 2012 the skewed provision of basic and necessary amenities to the working class community in Grabouw led to clashes between community members and police, moreover this incident exposed the Democratic Alliance (DA) leader and Premier of the Western Cape, Helen Zille for the neoliberal-colonial attitude she represents. Her utterances that the working class in Grabouw are experiencing overcrowding in schools due to "refugees" from Eastern Cape indicated the level of racist, divide and rule rhetoric we have now become familiar with from Zille.
Meanwhile SACP branch leaders active in this ongoing struggle have indicated that there has been a concerted effort by Public Works officials to exclude the community representatives in the form of the steering committee from the processes involved in the construction of this company.
The SACP in the province fully supports this struggle and will continue to do so until the working class community of Grabouw is provided with equal representation, opportunities, services and amenities.
Issued by SACP Western Cape
Enquires
Masonwabe Sokoyi
SACP Western Cape Provincial Spokesperson
Cell: 0765243242
Office: 021 696 2522
Fax: 086 558 2481
twitter :@SACPWC
Facebook: SACP Western Cape
Email: sacpwc.media@gmail.com