Giving freedom of Cape Town to Obama is a political gimmick

The recent announcement by the Mayor of Cape Town, that Obama would be given the freedom of the City of Cape Town is reducing an important occasion of the City into a political gimmick. The announcement allegedly comes from Hunt Lascaris as part of the R70 million advertising budget that the public protector had criticised. Hunt Lascaris has thus far delivered nothing on its mandate and are coming up with such gimmicks to get the DA into the media. The mayor herself has failed to highlight and respond to the service delivery protest and now is seeking to deflect attention to other areas.

This announcement also goes against the protocol adopted in the Council in respect of the naming committee that was set up to deal with such matters. The intention of the naming committee is to ensure that consensus is built across society on the issue of special events in the City. This is also designed to ensure that there is consensus and buy in around such events so that it contributes to building of social cohesion in the City. It is these one sided gimmicks that further divides the City that is already the grossly divided in respect of the race and equality.

COSATU will be calling on the Public Protector to stop this violation of the Council's procedures and waste of Public funds, by the Mayor. COSATU will further call on a City wide discussion on who gets the freedom of the city, and how all Capetonians are canvassed on their support for it.

De Lille is becoming just like Zille, running to the media with every hare-brained idea of her advisors without, following due process, and respecting democratic practices.

Statement issued by COSATU Western Cape Provincial Secretary, Tony Ehrenreich, May 22 2012

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