ANC slams Chamber's skewed focus
The Western Cape ANC says big business blocks economic development of Cape Town and the province and serve vested self-interests.
Provincial treasurer Fezile Calana says a position put by the Cape Chamber of Commerce is backwards, narrow-minded and anti-transformation (see Cape Times report).
Chamber president Michael Bagraim on Tuesday in a submission to Cape Town questions the expansion of the MyCiti rapid bus service to the Cape Flats areas such as Mitchells Plain and Khayelitsha as politically driven with no economic logic.
The ANC says Bagraim's comments about the cost of the project and who will subsidise it, are very unfortunate.
"It shows that poor groups like workers and entry level business people are prevented from benefitting in development. The DA government in the province continues siding with established business and trade areas at the expense of the poor.
"One does not expect such comments by business people who want all avenues and areas to be economically unlocked and expand the opportunities for development.
"The DA deviated from the plan to alleviate the dire overcrowded public transport system along the Klipfontein corridor to the Metro South East townships like Michells Plain and Khayelithsa. Instead, it redirected the central government funding for a bus trunk system at over budgeted expense to the affluent Blaauwberg and Western areas, as well as servicing the city bowl and the airport routes with under capacity or empty busloads.
"Now middle class people, who can afford the full fare, use the transport system subsidised by the city at less than the price for a rail ticket over similar distances! It is a travesty that they are cross subsidised by the poor, and the Chamber purports to worry about who will subsidise the poor on an expanded system into the Flats!! The Chamber should reconsider priorities," says Calana.
The ANC in the Western Cape wants opportunities for all areas, more development closer to where workers live and to have public transport made more affordable to especially poorer people.
Statement issued by ANC Western Cape Provincial treasurer Fezile Calana, May 16 2012
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