Cosatu blasts DA for bicycle lanes
Two boys ride on the bicycle lane in Hazel Road, Athlone. They say they use the lane every day. Picture: Christiaan Louw Two boys ride on the bicycle lane in Hazel Road, Athlone. They say they use the lane every day. Picture: Christiaan Louw
Cosatu provincial secretary Tony Ehrenreich has called for the City of Cape Town and the DA to be charged with corruption for “spending public funds on their friends” by constructing bicycle lanes in Blouberg.
In February, Ehrenreich hit out at the city’s dedicated bicycle lanes from Table View to the city, calling them “a great gimmick for the wealthy - while the poor have to hang outside of trains”.
On Monday he again attacked the city over the lanes, saying its priorities were misplaced.
“Cosatu will be filing corruption charges against the DA for spending public funds on their friends in wealthy areas when there is such a desperate need for services in poor communities,” he said.
“Cosatu has been made aware that influential DA officials live in the Milnerton Blaauberg area and that this is the reason why the bicycle lanes were built in that area.”
He said this amounted to corruption “because the DA had promised to deliver services to the poor and had instead focused on the wealthy ex-white areas”.
“The non-compliance with election promises amounts to fraud and fraudulent behaviour is also a form of corruption. Cosatu will be calling on the South African police to investigate these allegations and to bring criminal charges against the perpetrators in the DA and the city administration,” said Ehrenreich.
The outgoing mayoral committee member for transport, roads and stormwater, Elizabeth Thompson, said she was “confused” by Ehrenreich’s statements.
Thompson said bicycle or Non-Motorised Transport (NMT) lanes were first introduced in Gugulethu, Athlone and Symphony Way in Belhar long before Milnerton.
“I get confused when Tony makes these statements. He needs to understand that the plan is to integrate Phase 1A with non-motorised transport (and other forms of transport). I’m very passionate about NMT,” said Thompson. - Cape Times