15 January 2015
Figures recently released by the City of Cape indicating that the outbreak of shack fires has increased from 4800 in 2013 to over 8000 in 2014 might be an abstract statistic for the DA government, JP Smith and its constituency. For the South African SACP this alarming increase in shack fires has tragically led to the death of twenty people and left countless homeless and destitute.
Shack fires are now a common occurrence in the townships of the City of Cape Town and indeed the Western Cape during the December period. This annual disaster, occurring as a result of gross negligence by the DA-led government, is a clear indication of the escalating housing crisis in the Western Cape and City of Cape Town. The Western Cape has a massive housing backlog of over 500 000 units. Unfortunately for the countless victims of shack fires in the Province, the DA-led government has set its December sights on retaining international awards and recognitions.
To understand the Provincial housing crisis fully and the direct result thereof, including the annual tragedy of shack fires during the summer season and flooding during the winter season, one has to merely venture ten minutes outside of the "illustrious Cape Town CBD". Townships are neglected by the DA Provincial and City Governments. To date the number of houses built to address this broadening backlog have slumped dramatically under the DA-led government as opposed to the previous ANC-led administrations.
Shack fires are a part of the manifestations of social and economic imbalances created by Apartheid social engineering and now maintained and advanced by the DA. These annual seasonal disasters that claim lives and cause untold misery for the working class are preventable.
Instead of authorities planning minimise the tragedy faced by affected communities, the City of Cape Town launched the "I love my beach campaign", concentrated on managing the influx of vehicles into the upmarket areas on Cape Town`s Atlantic Seaboard. This was also calculated at sabotaging the ANC 103rd Anniversary.
The SACP will be lodging a complaint against the City of Cape Town with the SA Human Rights Commission for a clear violation of responsibilities and duties; for neglecting to formulate adequate measures to address; for failing to prevent these seasonal tragedies that have increased in occurrence; and for causing the deaths of people.
The SACP reiterates that the National Minister of Human Settlements must intervene in the housing crisis in the Western Cape.
Issued by SACP Western Cape
Contact:
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