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Whilst visitors from across the country are returning home from their Cape Town holiday, the ANC is extending their holiday in the Mother City under the auspices of hosting their annual January 8 birthday rally. The rally will be the smallest one yet, held at the tiny Khayelitsha Stadium, which will be a suitable reflection of the party’s national and provincial decline in the past elections.

As part of the celebration, several ANC Deputy Ministers will visit Avondale in Atlantis on 7 January 2025. They will be welcomed by sub-council chairperson, Cllr Allister Lightburn.

Reflective of the ANC’s general aloofness to Atlantis, the arrangements, dignitaries list and agenda for the visit has not been forthcoming, however, the main issues residents expect to be addressed during the visit are the lack of SAPS resources which hamper service delivery and police visibility at crime hotspots in Saxonsea, Witsand, Robinvale, Protea Park and Pella.

Western Cape MEC for Safety and Security, Anroux Marais, has made big strides in coordinating a rapid response to gang violence in Atlantis and a similar national approach to the issues relating to understaffing and the lack of resources will be welcomed by Atlantis residents.

Minister Marais’s successes are a case in point of the value the devolution of police powers have on the lives of residents – especially in hotspot and gang-ridden areas.

The DA therefore welcomes a constructive visit by all the ANC tourist ministers visiting Atlantis tomorrow and welcome any further input in respect of the devolution of powers.

Issued by Nicholas Gotsell - DA Constituency Head, Atlantis, Blaauwberg and Table View