Political parties clash over housing, crime and inequality in Cape Town - EWN

Housing, gang violence and possible coalitions dominated CapeTalk's final pre-election debate as five political parties faced off over the future of Cape Town.

Cape Town’s iconic skyline, Table Mountain and Atlantic coastline form the backdrop to a high-stakes political battle.

With local government elections just a day away, five political parties have gone head-to-head over some of the key issues affecting Capetonians.

CapeTalk's Lester Kiewit moderated a pre-election debate, featuring representatives from the DA, ANC, EFF, GOOD and National Coloured Congress (NCC).

They covered topics ranging from the city's housing crisis to crime and service delivery.

Opposition parties accused the DA of failing poorer communities.

GOOD's Brett Herron said Cape Town was a "tale of two cities", and said residents experience the city very differently depending on where they live.

"It is the best of times if you live here, where we are right now [Green Point], and it is the worst of times on the Cape Flats."

The EFF's Carl Niehaus said the party was deeply concerned about the "deep division" between the majority of people in Cape Town.

"Black and colored, poor, in Khayelitsha, in Dunoon, all over the Cape Flats on the one hand, and the rich, those in the southern suburbs."

He said those who lived in wealth and comfort are mainly still white, and are the ones that are "taken care of by the Democratic Alliance", adding that after 20 years of having been in control of the City, the DA has upheld these divisions.

But the DA's Francine Higham defended the city, saying more than R40 billion had been invested in infrastructure over five years, with further spending planned.

"Progress takes time, and we've made huge inroads over the last five years."

On the issue of housing, the ANC called for housing developments closer to the CBD.

The party's Mayoral candidate Jerimia Thuynsma asked voters to reimagine Cape Town.

"A Cape Town where people don't have to burn tyres to bring the issue of housing to the public eye."

The party wants voters to reimagine a Cape Town where they live where they want.

"Where they don't get out-priced just because we do not want people to live close to where the opportunities are."

Meanwhile, the NCC's Fadiel Adams argued that backyard dwellers in coloured communities were being overlooked.

"Release the land and allow our people to build their own houses. We have the skills."

Crime was another major concern, with parties debating how to tackle gangsterism and improve policing on the Cape Flats.

NCC leader Fadiel Adams argued that young people need opportunities before gangs recruit them.

"Nothing stops a bullet like a job," he said.

"Give us spades, give us pens, give us tools."

GOOD's Brett Herron questioned whether putting more police officers on the streets was making a difference.

"I think it's self-evident that boots on the ground are not solving the problem."

He said that safer public spaces, sports facilities and community programmes were just as important.

Francine Higham defended the city's approach, saying it had invested in CCTV cameras and youth development programmes.

She also raised concerns about suspects returning to communities shortly after being arrested.

"The community's living in fear as those criminals are back on the streets."

The ANC's Jerimia Thuynsma called for better cooperation between SAPS and law enforcement, arguing that the city should make better use of its existing powers.

Meanwhile, the EFF's Carl Niehaus called for community policing, improved intelligence and job creation, saying military deployments were not a long-term solution.

"The answer to crime is socioeconomic development."

The discussion also turned to possible coalitions, with the DA warning against what it called a "coalition of chaos". But opposition parties challenged that position.

"I will tell them what chaos is. Chaos is what I saw in Dunoon when children are playing ankle-deep in the sewage. Guns going off. No proper policing, but a lot of fanfare about so-called RoboCop policing. The Democratic Alliance is not bringing a future to this city," said Niehaus.