GOOD Press Statement by Suzette Little
GOOD City of Cape Town Councillor & Caucus Chairperson
14 November 2024
The GOOD Party calls on the City of Cape Town to review its policy of only issuing one bin for three public housing flat units and social housing and or flats.
The City has been at pains to get on top of the illegal dumping issue but what is now clear is that residents alone cannot be blamed.
It was recently revealed that only a fraction of residents in historically disadvantaged areas like Manenberg and Hanover Park are being provided with bins, leaving communities with nowhere to dispose of their daily rubbish.
This is a service residents are paying for, it is part of their municipal rates which the City collects at all costs, even deducting from electricity.
This ongoing mismanagement shows a clear disregard for the dignity and health of these communities.
The City’s claim that issuing bins universally would constitute “wasteful expenditure” is especially insulting to those suffering from inadequate service delivery.
In his recent address to the council, the Mayor himself emphasized Cape Town’s identity as a “caring city.”
A truly caring city would recognize the value in investing in the cleanliness, health, and dignity of all its communities.
When bins are communal and not allocated individually, nobody takes responsibility, leading to misuse and an escalation in illegal dumping.
The City’s half-measures show that it is not serious about solving the sanitation crisis in poor areas and is unwilling to provide these communities with the resources they need to take ownership of their surroundings.
Decent service delivery is not a privilege but a right—and treating it as an investment rather than an expense would yield returns in the form of healthier, cleaner communities.
The GOOD Party calls on the City of Cape Town to stop shifting the blame and start taking meaningful action.
It is time to invest fully in our communities by delivering essential services and showing true care for every resident, regardless of where they live.
Media Enquiries:media@forgood.org.za