DA’s JP Smith promotes racism and class division in City of Cape Town

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Sherbang

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There is no doubt in my mind that the DA provincial and local government administration defends race and class privilege. Any person associated with it should be ashamed of the reactionary comments and practice articulated by JP Smith the councillor for Sea Point and the Mayoral Committee member for Safety and Security.

Below is a statement from the Social Justice Coalition.

Zackie Achmat
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http://writingrights.org/2010/11/15...race-and-class-division-in-city-of-cape-town/

Anyone have a link to the original story about JP Smith that this is the reaction to?
 
I think Zackie Achmat needs a bloody PK...

There was a police presence in Khayelitsha, JP Smith refused to deploy extra Metro police into an area which DOESN'T pay rates (the money that pays the Metro's salary) and also into an area that choose violence as a method of attempting to solve their grievances.. I actually tend to agree with JP Smith on this action.
 
I agree, if the area does not pay rates then the problems should devolve onto the SAPS. Metro cops are metro, salaries paid for by rate payers not taxes. The police or army should be called in to squash any violence.
 
There is a local government election in the offing.

When they can't win via the ballot box, then coercion and anarchy seem to be the preferred alternative for some political parties.
 
bekdik said:
There is a local government election in the offing.

When they can't win via the ballot box, then coercion and anarchy seem to be the preferred alternative for some political parties.
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Yep, it's a sad tactic. Make life worse for the residents then blame the DA because they're in control. Hopefully people see through this, but I don't think it's a good statement from JP Smith. Basically saying that poor residents will get inferior services because they don't (more like can't) pay rates. They'd love to also be living in good suburbs and be able to afford the rates and taxes.

Where Zackie Achmat starts to throw in race for no reason is stupid. If there was an affluent black/poor white area then it would be the same story, so I don't see any racism. Many black and coloured residents pay rates and therefore get the extra metro police presence.
 
Actually, there's fiscal allocation to local governments from the national fiscus. Metro police have jurisdiction in all areas that are under the metro. After all they do collect traffic fines from poor areas, don't they?
 
JungleBoy said:
Actually, there's fiscal allocation to local governments from the national fiscus. Metro police have jurisdiction in all areas that are under the metro. After all they do collect traffic fines from poor areas, don't they?
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No, they write those off to bad debts...
 
You are talking rubbish. The people in townships also licence their vehicles and the municipality gladly accepts their money. Also at a road-block they never ask you where you stay only your licence
 
I've never believed that dealing with violence is a metro cops responsibility, that is what the SAP is for and they have the power, authority and jurisdiction to handle it. Bylaws and traffic offenses are the metro's bailiwick.
 
Kosmik said:
I've never believed that dealing with violence is a metro cops responsibility, that is what the SAP is for and they have the power, authority and jurisdiction to handle it. Bylaws and traffic offenses are the metro's bailiwick.
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+1

I don't even believe that the Metro Cops should be involved in controlling crime in any way. They are not trained to do this effectively and just interfere with the SA Police.

They are / should be there to issue traffic fines and to control traffic - and they have difficulty even doing that properly.

As to controlling violence, that's just out of the question - if the Police can't handle it then the Army should be called in.

As far as I am concerned this has nothing to do with paying rates or not - JP Smith made some incorrect statements.

And Zackie Achmat is just a racist / opportunist.
 
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The Councilor is quoted as saying that he would not “squander more resources on the area” as this would mean taking resources away “from other areas where people do pay their rates”, and asks “why should a group of people who resort to violence be prioritised?” This was in response to questions arising from the inadequate police response to violent protests that have affected thousands of residents in Khayelitsha for the past month. Smith’s comments are anti-poor, naive, and unconstitutional.
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Surely this statement could have been taken out of context? I cant believe this dude would be dumb enough to say this. Anyone seen a response from the DA regarding this?
 
Funny how when the ANC is in the spotlight everyone automatically assumes the allegations to be true, the minute the DA is... oh no, they are talking rubbish etc etc
 
Fudzy said:
Funny how when the ANC is in the spotlight everyone automatically assumes the allegations to be true, the minute the DA is... oh no, they are talking rubbish etc etc
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Guess its only natural to judge from past experience and reputation first
 
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