The Northern Cape boasts some of the most interesting heritage sites and amazing landscapes imaginable, including two of the ten World Heritage sites recognised by UNESCO in South Africa. Unfortunately, the state of Northern Cape municipalities are such that very few people experience this bounty and the true tourism potential of the province remains largely untapped.
Tourists simply do not want to spend their vacations navigating dilapidated roads without functional streetlights or legible name boards, which is why the DA and our coalition partners in Nama-Khoi negotiated with Sanral and used private sponsorships of more than R3 million to repair Springbok’s roads. Likewise, at the time that Kathu had a DA-mayor, we launched a project to refurbish road signs and markings so that it is easier for tourists to reach their destinations safely.
Proper infrastructure management is essential to boost tourism. Challenges with erratic or poor water supply in towns like McDougals Bay near Port Nolloth makes it impossible for residents to rent out properties during Easter weekend, when the town usually experiences an influx of tourists. Towns like Keimoes and Kakamas on the banks of the Oranjeriver are frequently left without water due to poor management of bulk infrastructure, a spiral of decay that we see spinning through towns like Kimberley, Griekwastad, De Aar, Richmond, Hanover, and Britstown as well.
Infrastructure mismanagement, often caused by cadre deployment, is worsened by provincial government failing to pay rates and taxes owed to municipalities. In November last year, the Northern Cape Department of Roads & Public Works admitted that it only had R75 million to pay municipal debts of more than R130 million.
When provincial government ignores its obligations to municipalities, it increases the burden on ratepayers. It is ultimately residents, their business interests and the local economies that suffer under the ANC’s uncaring incompetence. And it is no surprise that, while the City of Cape Town can create 43 000 jobs in just three months, the Northern Cape’s expanded unemployment rate remains at 42.9%.
It is only the DA that has the economic policies that can rescue municipalities, rescue local economies, and rescue residents.