COSATU calls on the City of Cape Town to take urgent steps to address the service delivery backlog to the poorer communities. The City is aware that every year, at this time, floods cause huge problems in many low-lying areas, yet no remedial actions are taken. Faced with this desperate circumstance and a CoCT who fails to respond, people are left with no option but to protest against their desperate circumstances.

These protests are linked to basic needs like water, sanitation and disaster relief for flooding; and belie the Public Relations exercise by the City on their “Public Satisfaction Survey” released this week.

This “Satisfaction Survey” claims that the levels of happiness are increasing when clearly the only thing increasing is the number of protests.

Service delivery may be excellent in the wealthier areas, but leaves much to be desired on the Cape Flats.

COSATU calls on the National Minister of Social Development to compel the Mayor of Cape Town to take urgent steps to address this crisis.

The City’s refusal to act in relief of communities condemns women and children to the miseries and vagaries of winter.

Issued by the Congress of South African Trade Unions