Press Release – Urgent Appeal for Infrastructure Improvements in Cape Town’s Underserved Communities 

Marius Fransman and the People’s Movement for Change (PMC) urge immediate action to address the pressing infrastructure needs of Cape Town’s most vulnerable communities. 

Greeting with Love and Hope 

I, Marius Fransman, President of People’s Movement for Change, greet the public with love, hope, and in the spirit of Ubuntu, expressing not only hope but also deep anger. There are two sides to the City of Cape Town. Many enjoy the liberty and luxury of proper electricity, sturdy housing, and do not worry about rains ruining their homes. However, on the other side of town, our fellow citizens live amidst the ravages of poor planning by the City of Cape Town and oversight by both the DA-led local government and the ANC National Government. 

Urgent Need for Infrastructure 

In Bonteheuwel, Manenberg, Heideveld, the greater Cape Flats, and informal settlements, our people live in dire conditions. They sit and live in dumps of water, and their homes are at constant risk during rains. These infrastructure failures profoundly disturb and affect their lives. 

Rain as a Blessing, Infrastructure as a Necessity 

We understand that it’s not possible to stop the rain – those showers are blessings. What we demand, however, is better infrastructure that protects and uplifts our communities. 

Demand for Action 

The People’s Movement for Change declares that the continuation of Apartheid Spatial Planning in Cape Town is unacceptable. While areas like Constantia and Sea Point remain well-maintained and orderly, the other side of town faces disaster. Children need to go to school, parents need to reach their workplaces, and our public transportation system is collapsing under intense pressure. It’s chaos.

Appeal to the City of Cape Town and the President 

We urge the City of Cape Town to get your act together. The people of the Cape Flats, who voted for the DA, feel abandoned yet again. The PMC demands a serious conversation about reimagining our society. How can we transform Elsies River, Eerste River, and our informal settlements into communities with access to electricity, water, and sanitation? These are the basic foundations of society. 

Call for Government Action 

I am calling for a comprehensive rethink of the local government model. We request that President Ramaphosa returns home with the same rapid urgency he showed in meeting with international leaders and issue an executive order to address the infrastructure crisis in Cape Town. The President and the Minister of Cooperative Governance have the legal authority, right, and capability to force the City of Cape Town to deploy engineers, trucks, and infrastructure support immediately. 

Prepare for Winter 

We haven’t even reached the peak of winter, yet we are already struggling. For how many more winters will the City of Cape Town be caught unprepared? 

A Call for Unity 

The People’s Movement for Change says: “Let’s unite, area by area, community by community, and declare that enough is enough. It is time for a change, and it is time for action.” 

Marius Fransman
President
People’s Movement for Change

For media inquiries, please contact:
Grant Harmse
Head of Communications
0659784075
People’s Movement for Change