The City of Cape Town is to challenge the "unfair" 70:30 allocation of houses to former Joe Slovo residents and backyard dwellers in the national N2 Gateway housing project, and ask that the ratio be an equitable 50:50.
And the ANC failed to persuade the council to vote on its proposal calling for the immediate suspension of DA councillor Frank Martin, who faces criminal charges and an internal council probe as he is alleged to have incited back yard dwellers to occupy illegally unfinished N2 Gateway houses in Delft Symphony.
At its marathon four-hour special meeting on Wednesday, called to discuss the "impending disaster" in Delft, the council agreed to begin the process necessary to change the housing allocation.
Ndivhuwo wa ha Mabaya, of the national Housing Department, said the allocation policy for the N2 Gateway project had been decided by all three tiers of government, including the city.
Mayor Helen Zille said the 70:30 ratio was causing "so much grievance and division" in the project.
At the emotionally charged meeting, during which opposition parties pointed fingers on the events that led to the illegal occupation of the incomplete houses, 102 councillors voted in favour of moving towards a 50:50 allocation.
The ANC voted against Zille's recommendation.
Attempts by ANC caucus leader Mbulelo Ncedana to have the council vote on the immediate suspension of Martin fell on deaf ears.
Speaker Dirk Smit said the council did not have the power decide on the matter.
In her opening address, Zille launched a scathing attack on the ANC-led national and provincial governments.
"They have been more interested in trying to blame the DA in general and Frank Martin in particular for the total failure of their housing policy... which is the real cause of this crisis in Delft.
"The ANC has made such a mess of the N2 Gateway project, and has made so many promises around this project, that it is now desperately trying to find someone else to blame for its failure."
Referring to Martin's alleged involvement in the illegal occupation, which ended with the eviction of hundreds of families last month, Zille said: "If councillor Martin has done something wrong it will emerge and be dealt with in the Speaker's investigation and the court case on the matter."
Martin was present during the meeting, but did not join in the debate.
The ANC insisted that the DA suspend Martin pending the findings of the city's probe and the police investigation.
It believes Martin has breached the code of conduct for councillors and has asked the Speaker to suspend him immediately.
Zille accused the ANC of using the N2 Gateway project to attempt to win votes in the 2006 local government elections and to benefit its supporters.
Then, amid rousing applause from the ANC, ID caucus leader Simon Grindrod accused the DA of "setting coloured people against black people" in its handling of the Delft situation.
He said Martin had lied to the community for "political gain".
Ebrahim Sawant (ANC) said the DA did not care about black or coloured communities.
"The DA will step up its campaign to drive wedges in communities (before next year's election)."
Dan Plato (DA), mayoral committee member for housing, said there was "no accommodation crisis" in Delft.
He said the city had provided "sufficient tents" for evicted families who wanted shelter. There were also water, sanitation, and electricity at night.
The council voted against an ANC proposal to make community facilities in Delft available for evicted families.
An ID proposal that Zille seek immediate disaster relief from national government for evicted families in Delft was adopted at the meeting.
A social welfare unit is to be set up in the area. - Cape Times
And the ANC failed to persuade the council to vote on its proposal calling for the immediate suspension of DA councillor Frank Martin, who faces criminal charges and an internal council probe as he is alleged to have incited back yard dwellers to occupy illegally unfinished N2 Gateway houses in Delft Symphony.
At its marathon four-hour special meeting on Wednesday, called to discuss the "impending disaster" in Delft, the council agreed to begin the process necessary to change the housing allocation.
Ndivhuwo wa ha Mabaya, of the national Housing Department, said the allocation policy for the N2 Gateway project had been decided by all three tiers of government, including the city.
Mayor Helen Zille said the 70:30 ratio was causing "so much grievance and division" in the project.
At the emotionally charged meeting, during which opposition parties pointed fingers on the events that led to the illegal occupation of the incomplete houses, 102 councillors voted in favour of moving towards a 50:50 allocation.
The ANC voted against Zille's recommendation.
Attempts by ANC caucus leader Mbulelo Ncedana to have the council vote on the immediate suspension of Martin fell on deaf ears.
Speaker Dirk Smit said the council did not have the power decide on the matter.
In her opening address, Zille launched a scathing attack on the ANC-led national and provincial governments.
"They have been more interested in trying to blame the DA in general and Frank Martin in particular for the total failure of their housing policy... which is the real cause of this crisis in Delft.
"The ANC has made such a mess of the N2 Gateway project, and has made so many promises around this project, that it is now desperately trying to find someone else to blame for its failure."
Zille said it was the "ANC's racist and elitist housing policy that lies at the root of the crisis".
Referring to Martin's alleged involvement in the illegal occupation, which ended with the eviction of hundreds of families last month, Zille said: "If councillor Martin has done something wrong it will emerge and be dealt with in the Speaker's investigation and the court case on the matter."
Martin was present during the meeting, but did not join in the debate.
The ANC insisted that the DA suspend Martin pending the findings of the city's probe and the police investigation.
It believes Martin has breached the code of conduct for councillors and has asked the Speaker to suspend him immediately.
Zille accused the ANC of using the N2 Gateway project to attempt to win votes in the 2006 local government elections and to benefit its supporters.
Then, amid rousing applause from the ANC, ID caucus leader Simon Grindrod accused the DA of "setting coloured people against black people" in its handling of the Delft situation.
He said Martin had lied to the community for "political gain".
Ebrahim Sawant (ANC) said the DA did not care about black or coloured communities.
"The DA will step up its campaign to drive wedges in communities (before next year's election)."
Dan Plato (DA), mayoral committee member for housing, said there was "no accommodation crisis" in Delft.
He said the city had provided "sufficient tents" for evicted families who wanted shelter. There were also water, sanitation, and electricity at night.
The council voted against an ANC proposal to make community facilities in Delft available for evicted families.
An ID proposal that Zille seek immediate disaster relief from national government for evicted families in Delft was adopted at the meeting.
A social welfare unit is to be set up in the area. - Cape Times
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