GOOD statement by Brett Herron,
GOOD: Secretary-General and Member of Western Cape Provincial Parliament
07 February 2022
The GOOD Party commends the DA-led City of Cape Town for having the courage to reactivate important inner-city housing projects it cancelled for political reasons after the resignation of former Mayor Patricia de Lille.
The vacant piece of land on Roeland Street, next to the Fruit ‘n Veg City, where the City relaunched the inner-city affordable housing project today, was one of 11 sites identified in 2017 as suitable for development. Calls for proposals were issued in respect of five of the sites, and private sector developers responded with a number of exciting bids.
That’s when the project became a political football. De Lille and my best efforts to implement it were resisted by conservatives in the caucus. It was a major factor in our decision to give up our positions and leave the party.
The fact that it has taken the City nearly five years to come round to the idea is far from ideal, in the context of the massive housing backlog and the jobs haemorrhaged in the construction sector.
South Africans have sadly grown accustomed to internal party political considerations paralysing service delivery.
In this instance, the City of Cape Town deserves the support of all parties for having the courage to do the right thing for the City and its people.
Media enquiries:
Samkelo Mgobozi, GOOD: Media Manager
Cell: 0792315977 (whatsapp)/0829684021 (calls)
Email: samm@forgood.org.za
Brett Herron, GOOD: Secretary-General & Member of Western Cape Provincial Parliament
Cell: 0825183264
Email: bretth@forgood.org.za