GOOD Statement by Anton Louw,
GOOD City of Cape Town Councillor
18 September 2024
The City of Cape Town must explain where it will find the money to add a temporary roof to the Cape Town Stadium, while Bellville Velodrome is falling apart.
On Monday, the Mayor of Cape Town, Geordin Hill-Lewis announced that the City planned to fund a temporary roof, at a cost of R30 million, to host more events. This is despite the fact this was not on the budget approved by council.
Yet in 2023, the City of Cape Town approved R25 million to upgrade and restore the Bellville Velodrome. At the time, Mayco members James Vos and Patricia van der Ross also confirmed that the facility would be restored to its original purpose. R8 million was to be spent by June 2024, and the balance in the current year ending June 2025.
However, not one cent has been spent, and the item, after being approved during the 23/2024 budget, seems to have simply disappeared from the budget.
Moreover, claims have been going around that the Velodrome would actually cost the City R350 million to upgrade.
If this is true then how accurate was the approved budget in 2023 and how did the City get to an amount of R25 million then?
It is also rumoured that the City is again in the process of selling the Velodrome. Section 14 of the MFMA provides for the disposal of immovable property, but it states that municipalities may not dispose of an immovable property that is required for a minimum level of service delivery.
If true, the City has no right to dispose of the Bellville Velodrome and has to restore it as promised to the public.
The Cape Town Stadium only works currently because it’s not under the management of the City but an external board that looks after the Stadium.
Yet, a world-class facility, the Bellville Velodrome is falling apart because it’s under the City’s control, and the City cannot maintain its own assets.
Media Enquiries:
Anton Louw, GOOD City of Cape Town Councillor
Cell: 082 377 3335
Email: anton@cisfs.co.za
Janke Tolmay, GOOD: Media Manager
Cell: 073 367 1223
Email: janke@forgood.org.za