Mashatile promises GNU will speedily address challenges faced by WC communities

CAPE TOWN – African National Congress (ANC) Deputy President Paul Mashatile says the Government of National Unity (GNU) will up its ante in addressing challenges faced by Western Cape communities.

Mashatile was mobilising people in Mfuleni township to attend the party's 113 birthday celebrations in Cape Town this week.

Mashatile, together with the party’s Western Cape chairperson JJ Tyhalisisu, ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) members, Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams and Pamela Nkabane engaged Mfuleni residents at the local taxi rank on Monday morning.

ALSO READ:

• January 8 statement: What to expect as the ANC marks its 113th anniversary
• SANTACO proposes priority N2 outbound lanes from CBD to Jakes Gerwel for taxis and busses in 2025

Mashatile said the ANC was committed to addressing the many challenges faced by locals.

"In many of these areas, our people are facing high levels of unemployment. As you can see many, people live in shacks, in need of decent houses and so on."

The ANC deputy president also promised to engage the national transport minister on the issue of minibus taxi impoundments raised by taxi owners in Mfuleni.

In October 2024, renewed tensions over taxi impoundments resurfaced, after the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) accused the City of Cape Town traffic officers of unfairly targeting taxi operators.

"One of the taxi leaders here was telling us that their taxis are being impounded when they transport people to Sea Point. So, we have noted that, because they wanted us to raise it with the Minister of Transport,” said Mashatile.

ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to deliver his January 8 statement in Khayelitsha on Saturday.