Date: 05/12/2003
Source: Western Cape Provincial Government
Title: Van Schalkwyk: Presentation of cheque for upgrading Mitchell's Plain


EXTRACT FROM SPEECH BY WESTERN CAPE PREMIER, MARTHINUS VAN SCHALKWYK, TO RESIDENTS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS, Mitchell's Plain, 5 December 2003

MITCHELL'S PLAIN URBAN RENEWAL BENEFITS ALL: PREMIER PRESENTS R33,2M CHEQUE TO CAPE TOWN MAYOR

Urban renewal is about upliftment. It is about poverty alleviation. Ultimately it is about the need for real human dignity in all our communities. The benefits of urban renewal stretch far wider than the specific community in which projects and developments take place. In the Western Cape our two urban renewal nodes are Khayelitsha and Mitchell's Plain - but the upgrading of these communities creates a ripple-effect that directly benefits areas like Philippi, Nyanga, and Gugulethu, as well as the whole of Cape Town in the long run.

Today we celebrate the two-year anniversary of our coalition in a very appropriate way - continuing our focus on real delivery to the communities of the Western Cape. It is for this reason that I am pleased today to be able to present to the people of Mitchell's Plain this cheque for R33,271 million as part of the Provincial Government's commitment to urban renewal. These funds, from our Consolidated Municipal Infrastructure Programme (CMIP), as coordinated by the Department of Local Government will be used to help improve and upgrade the Mitchell's Plain Central Business District (CBD).

The largest single amount approved, in the seven year history of CMIP in the Western Cape, this funding will go towards the creation of new public transport facilities, better informal trading infrastructure, new roads, improvement of public spaces, new public buildings, closed circuit television security camera installation, new retail, office and industrial developments, and improving the integration of the different areas that make up the CBD. The construction phase of these new public facilities is due to be completed by October next year.

It has been the case that urban renewal in the Western Cape has had a slow start - primarily because of the lack of political will and coordination that characterised some former provincial and local governments in the province. With the stability, coordination, and commitment to delivery that has been brought to the Western Cape and Cape Town by the New National Party/African National Congress Coalition of Hope, urban renewal programmes and initiatives have become real priorities.

We have reached the point, in partnership with local and national government, of aggressively promoting and implementing these projects and development initiatives to turn around the social exclusion that these areas have experienced in the past.

The Provincial Government has renewed its commitment to the Urban Renewal Programme by reprioritising resources from all provincial departments. The indications are that the provincial contribution to Khayelitsha will be R263,53 million and R148,49 million to Mitchell's Plain - making the total contribution for the Urban Renewal Programme more than R412 million.

Enquiries: Riaan Aucamp, 083 778 9923
Issued by: Office of the Premier, Western Cape Provincial Government
5 December 2003