Statement by Bongani Maqungwana UDM NEC Member
The United Democratic Movement (UDM) extends heartfelt condolences to the friends and families of the six individuals who tragically lost their lives in two separate fires in Cape Town (Bonteheuwel and Khayelitsha) on Friday night. Additionally, our thoughts are with the grandmother, her grandchildren, and great-grandchild who perished in a shack fire in Nelsriver in the Little Karoo on the same night. It has indeed been a weekend marred by tragedy.
Sadly, shack fires have become all too common, exacerbated by challenges such as limited access for fire departments due to the distance of fire stations and the lack of fire hydrants in these areas.
Over the past three decades, little progress has been made to address the dire living conditions of the poorest communities. Informal settlements continue to lack basic infrastructure, contrasting starkly with the amenities enjoyed by residents of more affluent areas.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) leader, John Steenhuisen, said to Western Cape voters that they must vote DA, or they will not have water, like the rest of the country – presumably because the African National Congress (ANC) rules the roost elsewhere. This is a case of the pot calling the kettle black.
The reality is that DA has dismally failed to solve the infrastructure lag on the Cape Flats for ages, and instead the “refugees” of the Flats live in squalor in the sand, amongst the gangsters and rainy weather, whilst Steenhuisen pontificates about ANC failures.
However, the UDM believes that both the ANC and the DA have failed the people of the Cape Flats for three decades; finish and klaar. Housing being a multi-tier-competency means that the blame must be shared. There are no excuses, no ducking and diving and the voters should know thát fact Mr Steenhuisen.
Issued by:
Cllr Bongani Maqungwana
Member of the UDM National Executive Committee
United Democratic Movement Western Cape
