The DA has doubled down on its progress in creating affordable housing in the City of Cape Town, despite criticism.
Cape Town deputy mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Eddie Andrews, said they have seen green shoots of progress with housing in the Province under the DA’s governance.
Andrews was pitching votes for the DA during the IOL Media town hall debate, with representatives from seven other political parties.
Andrews said: “We have also focused on amenities, affordable housing opportunities, and public services. We have seen some green shoots of progress. We have employed five officers in every single ward.
“The National Minister for Human Settlements has confirmed that the City of Cape Town has created more affordable housing opportunities than any other city.”
Andrews said in the coming years, the City aims to reduce the amount residents pay for electricity.
He added: “Potentially this will save our people around 20% on their current energy expenditure as part of our affordable service offering.
“Over the past five years, we have demonstrated what can be achieved through political stability, effective leadership, and policy certainty. We are taking Cape Town forward for every single resident.”
EFF Mayoral candidate Virgil Gericke fired at the DA and said they don't care about poor people.
Gericke said: “We will stand for land in the City of Cape Town, and therefore we will give equal opportunities for access to housing. So that is the first step that we will take. And it's not easy to do that.
“The City of Cape Town, the DA is just reluctant to do it because they don't care about the poor and the masses of the poor. You go to Philippi, you go to Manenberg, you go to Khayelitsha, you will see how people live up, live in cramped-up conditions.”
He said the DA is not concerned about this, but the EFF is concerned.
Gericke argued: “We are concerned about this, and we want to give our people housing opportunities. We want to give people a three-bedroom decent house. We have all been in this fight. Our people deserve much better than what they are getting at the moment.”