FF Plus requests PP to investigate Pilgrims Rest rental tenders

The Freedom Front Plus will be asking the Public Protector to determine whether all statutory requirements were adhered to in the awarding of tenders to new shop tenants of public property in Pilgrims Rest. According to media reports, current tenants were given 30 days' notice by the department of public works to vacate their shops and to make way for the new winners of the tenders (see Citizen report).

"There is however complaints from the current shop tenants that they had not received any response to their own tender applications since November 2011. It also appears that some tenants had been threatened by government officials that they would be removed from the properties if the tenants to not vacate the premises by the end of this month. According to the media reports, these current tenants are being targeted because they are white," Adv. Anton Alberts, the FF Plus' parliamentary spokesperson on economic affairs, said.

"The FF Plus is strongly opposed to intimidation of minorities and will see to it that the department of public works are held accountable for their actions. If our own investigation finds that the department had acted racist, a charge will also be laid with the Human Rights Commission," Alberts added.

The FF Plus finds this action bizarre seen against the back-drop of the ANC's attempt of building social cohesion at the conference which is currently being held in Soweto. It appears that only lip-service is paid to social cohesion and that is why the FF Plus will act firmly to protect minorities.

Statement issued by Adv. Anton Alberts, FF Plus parliamentary spokesperson: Economic Affairs, July 5 2012

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