Councillor Rob Quintas, mayoral committee member for urban mobility for the City of Cape Town, issued a statement claiming that the City is facing significant challenges in completing transport capital projects due to the actions of extortionists.
According to Councillor Quintas, with only two weeks left in the current fiscal year, up to R58.6 million in expenditure is at risk. At least seven major projects have been halted due to safety concerns on construction sites, including the construction of public transportation infrastructure, road reconstruction and stormwater management. These disruptions have the greatest impact on vulnerable communities.
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According to the statement, extortionists’ brazen attempts to hold the City and contractors hostage are intensifying. This situation comes at the expense of delivering essential services to those who need them most.
Councillor Rob Quintas condemned these criminal activities, expressing his outrage at the extortionist syndicates and opportunistic ‘thugs’ who show no regard for the lives of the communities being served or the hard-working teams striving to complete the projects on the ground.
Despite the challenges, the City of Cape Town remains committed to delivering services and assures the criminals that they will not yield to their ludicrous attempts to divert public capital for personal gain. The City has capital expenditure targets to meet, and the forcible prevention of meeting those targets is disappointing.
However, the City said that it does not negotiate with extortionists, emphasising that no amount of money is worth compromising human life.
The statement highlighted the specific projects that have been severely affected by threats, intimidation and even murder on site. These include the construction of new MyCiTi depots in Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain, the rehabilitation of Delft Main Road and various road upgrades in Bishop Lavis, Delft and Kalksteenfontein. Additionally, the Walter Sisulu/Lindela roundabout in Khayelitsha and the installation of traffic calming measures and footways in Brooklyn have also been impacted.
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Councillor Quintas explained that these projects are vital for commuter safety by improving road infrastructure, enhancing pedestrian safety and providing universal access. However, due to the threats and extortion attempts faced, significant delays and unspent capital budgets have been incurred.
The Urban Mobility Directorate said that it prioritises the safety of all road users and allocates funds to improve mobility and access for pedestrians, public transport users and motorists.
The statement concluded by highlighting the City’s commitment to filling the void left by the absence of a functional passenger rail service and expanding the routes of the MyCiTi bus service to the metro-southeast. This expansion aims to provide a safe, reliable and scheduled public transport option for residents in Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain, facilitating their commutes to Claremont and Wynberg.
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