Deputy Speaker, the ANC is gravely concerned about the alleged repulsive treatment of churches in Cape Town's African township by the Cape Town municipality and the Western Cape provincial government. The Cape Town municipality and the Western Cape provincial government have been demolishing church structures, and this is a matter that we witnessed as MPs. They have also been evicting church members from schools and community halls which have served as their temporary places of worship.
This is despite an agreement made just before the elections between the leaders of these churches and the then mayor Madam Helen Zille. This agreement was organised by the Western Cape Case Management Forum, the WCCMF. In terms of this agreement Madam Zille agreed, just before the elections, that the onslaught against the churches would be halted until alternative settlement had been identified.
The ANC is of the view that the city and the provincial government should rather be partnering with the religious communities, particularly black churches, to deal with poverty, crime, drug abuse and HIV and Aids, rather than waging an onslaught against them.
Therefore the ANC, through the Chief Whip of the Majority Party Dr Mathole Motshekga, has submitted a formal request to the SA Human Rights Commission to conduct an investigation into complaints of gross human rights violations conducted by the City of Cape Town. The ANC trusts that the commission will take appropriate corrective measures to bring relief to these communities. I thank you. [Time expired.] [Applause.]