Where was the support for Cape Town as capital?

SOME misconceptions in your editorial “Zille’s speech a capital affair” (Weekend Argus, February 20), beg a response.

One would have thought an esteemed newspaper such as yours would know the facts and also support your home town.

Perhaps you favour Pretoria as a more picturesque capital as opposed to Cape Town? I hold my breath on this. Or a safer environment to work in?

It was no sales pitch that our premier delivered but the facts with regard to creating a parliamentary precinct close to Parliament.

Are you aware that most of the property around Parliament is already owned by the government, as there were plans in place a few years ago to build a new assembly across the road from the current house, the area that is currently a car park?

And how easy it would be to build on this site; no demolition required, no heritage issues, no objections from other property owners – if I recall this was also featured quite extensively in the press at the time and architects had been appointed and came up with an exciting draft plan.

Also, many of the properties in Roeland Street still belong to the government garage and are not used and are therefore ripe for development.

Your sister newspaper, the Cape Times, in a special supplement on Friday, February 12, 2010, featured a proposed development by Eurocape for high rise flats that would house civil servants – a wonderful accommodation solution which I am sure private enterprise would be only be delighted to get involved in.

This whole precinct that our premier referred to is ripe for development as it is a major part of the East City Precinct, which is also covered by the CCID and now also features restaurants, coffee shops, bakeries, book shops, and all within walking distance of Parliament.

What does Pretoria offer as an alternative?

Even Sunnyside and Hatfield are not safe anymore. And the embassy staff of Waterkloof Ridge are not safe in their homes, let alone driving from Oliver Tambo International Airport.

It is disappointing that you seem to favour Pretoria as our capital city and I cannot understand why.

Perhaps it makes better reading than to support our Mother City?