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Ehrenreich backs Ramaphosa for ANC presidency

Cape Town – Cosatu in the Western Cape also threw its weight behind Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa as the preferred candidate for ANC president in the ruling party’s upcoming leadership race in 2017. 

Tony Ehrenreich, regional secretary of Cosatu Western Cape, said in a statement following a media briefing on Monday that the organisation is “pleased” with the Central Executive Committee’s announcement of Ramaphosa as presidential candidate. 

‘Ramaphosa will bring comfort’

“We believe that this announcement will come a long way in comforting the members of Cosatu who has been concerned about the latest developments in the government that has led to billions of rand of their savings in pension funds being wiped out.”

Ehrenreich was referring to the sudden removal of former finance minister Nhlanhla Nene on 9 December last year, which led to the Government Employees Pension Fund losing R95bn; as well as charges laid against Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan in October this year, which resulted in bank stocks losing R34bn. 

READ: ’Cosatu's backing for Ramaphosa a big boost'

“The concerns in the ANC have led to an exodus of support in the ANC by workers at election time,” Ehrenreich continued, “which poses a significant threat to the process of transformation in South Africa”.

He said President Jacob Zuma must accept these “areas of weaknesses” in his capacity as leader of the ANC and the country, “because the buck stops by the leader”.

“Cosatu Western Cape hopes that the instability in the ANC and South Africa will be restored with this positive development in respect of the leadership challenges that exist.” 

Western Cape government scorecard

At the media conference, Cosatu also assessed the performance of the DA-led Western Cape government. 

“The Provincial Government has gone from bad to worse on every index that reflects the interest of working people and we give the DA a test score on everyone of the key indicators of governance,” Ehrenreich said.

Cosatu scored the Western Cape government as follows: 

- Education – 40%:  “The levels of inequality between rich and poor schools are increasing, with working class schools criminally neglected.” 
- Safety and security – 30%: “The number of people who are dying because of violent crimes are on the increase, with no effective plan to address this.”  
- Housing – 40%: “More people are living in informal areas as the housing backlog increases.” 
- Social services – 70%: “The Provincial Government is basically just implementing the national standards of the National Government.” 
- Health services – 30%: “There have been a decline in levels of services as hospitals like Jooste are closed and others are understaffed.” 
- Public Transport – 0%: “This is non-existent in rural areas, as only poor black people need it.” 

City of Cape Town scorecard

Cosatu scored the City of Cape Town as follows: 

- Safety and Security – 20%: “The killings and presence of gangsters have reached horrific levels, while the DA-led City Council focuses on dogs barking and blocking freeways for traffic fines in the ‘old white’ areas.” 
- Housing and landscaping – 70% in white areas and 30% in areas, such as the Cape Flats: “There is a ‘criminal neglect’ of backyarders and the informal sector. In spite of promises very few houses are delivered and the waiting list is manipulated for DA members.” 
- Transport – 80% for white areas and 30% for areas, such as the Cape Flats: “MyCiti buses are ‘unevenly’ rolled out with the majority delivered to Sea Point while the Cape Flats areas need it more urgently.” 
- Social services: “There are not sufficient social services to undo the apartheid social injury and assist in healing communities from the backlog.” 
- Utility services – 70% in white areas and 30% in black areas: “White areas have lighting and sufficient sewerage capacity, while ‘old’ black areas have sewerage running through their houses.” 

READ: Thousands of Cosatu workers to protest in Cape Town

Cosatu said the “latest trick” of the DA-led City Council is the “vanity projects” whereby walkways and crash bars are built in very public areas where they are not urgently needed. 

“Therefore the City gets 20% for empathy and a sense of priority.”  

He added that employment equity and affirmative action are “completely ignored” by the DA in the province and the City of Cape Town. 

“Cosatu will be starting 2017 with a big campaign to undo the inequalities and injustices that exist in this province,” Ehrenreich concluded. 

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