/ 18 May 1999

MORKEL KEPT OUT OF FLATS

WESTERN Cape Premier and provincial New National Party leader Gerald Morkel was forced on Monday to cancel his planned visit to an informal settlement on the Cape Flats due to a “life-threatening African National Congress presence”. Morkel said in a statement that he had been advised by his security personnel to avoid the Vrygrond squatter settlement, where he had been scheduled to launch a home-building programme. ANC Western Cape spokesman Cameron Dugmore responded that the ANC has “in no way” made Vrygrond a “no-go area” for Morkel. “The community felt that Morkel’s presence was not welcome since he was never involved in the [housing] development project at all,” Dugmore said.