CAPE TOWN, Western Cape — The African National Congress (ANC) in the Western Cape has strongly responded to the recent Public Protector report regarding severe service delivery failures in the City of Cape Town, arguing that the findings only scratch the surface of deeper systemic issues in local townships.
The report, tabled earlier this week, highlights significant failures by the City of Cape Town to provide basic municipal services to residents in areas such as Langa and Khayelitsha. Key findings detail the municipality’s inability to maintain and fully repair sewer infrastructure, specifically noting ongoing issues at the Langa Flats. The investigation also revealed cracked walls in housing units and untidy common areas, which the report states violates residents’ constitutional right to an environment that is not harmful to their well-being, as envisaged in Section 24 of the Constitution.
Addressing the media at its provincial office, ANC Western Cape spokespersons argued that the City of Cape Town is fundamentally incapable of running its own affairs properly. In response to the findings, the party is insisting on a more comprehensive investigation by the Auditor-General.
The ANC leadership suggested that a deeper probe could uncover further financial mismanagement within the municipality. “If the agent could have scratched deeper, we might have found more shenanigans in the City of Cape Town,” the spokespersons stated. They further alleged that the National Treasury might need to take a decision to withhold funds from the city, recalling past instances where the municipality returned money specifically allocated for informal settlement upgrades.
The ANC maintained that the Public Protector’s findings serve as definitive proof that the current Democratic Alliance (DA)-led government in the city and the province neglects the poor and the working class.
“The Public Protector confirmed that we have always said that the DA government in the city and the province does not care for the poor and the working class,” the party representatives noted. They emphasized that the “tale of the two cities” is continually highlighted by such findings, pointing to a broader crisis and an organization that is delinquent to the country’s Constitution.
In conclusion, the ANC has officially called on the City of Cape Town to respect its mandate and ensure the equitable provision of basic services to all communities across the metropolitan area.