MEC Plato welcomes cancellation of 'green cards' in Worcester

Mbasa Gqokoma
13 March 2015

Western Cape MEC of Community Safety Dan Plato has welcomed the stopping of issuing of the controversial green card saga in Worcester by Provincial Police Commissioner Arno Lamoer.

A report last week alleges that gardeners in Worcester have to apply for a green card in order for them to be eligible to apply for work in certain neighbourhoods in the area.

Ministerial Spokesperson Ewald Botha said “the move to stop the issuing of the cards follows the request from Minister Plato through Lieutenant General Lamoer on urgent investigation to the matter and show that police are serious about correcting consequences of the controversial police sector initiative.

However media reports states that National Commissioner General Riah Phiyega admitted yesterday that  police had been aware of the use of the cards for a while, which raises a serious questions of  why such management did not act earlier ton put a stop in this practise, Botha added.

Meanwhile the African National Congress Youth League has condemned this in the strongest possible terms.

ANC Youth League Provincial Chairperson Muhammad Khalid said this incident shows that the province remains racially divided.

Khalid says this smacks of apartheid racism it shows that even though it might not be legislative, racism is still alive and kicking in the Western Cape.

We have often be criticised as the Youth League for raising issues of race by constantly saying that black people in this province need to take destiny in their own hands, need to ask serious questions about race, Khalid added.