We call on Pope Leo XIV to walk in the footsteps of his predecessors by championing justice, compassion, and equality. We are heartened by his words from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, where he affirmed “We have to seek together to be a missionary church. A church that builds bridges and dialogue.”
GOOD has submitted its formal response to the City of Cape Town’s Draft Budget for public comment, raising serious concerns about above-inflation tariff hikes, new fixed charges, and last-minute amendments that threaten to undermine the integrity of the entire consultation process.
The GOOD Party calls on the City of Cape Town to extend the public comment period of the City’s draft Budget, which is set to conclude on Friday 2 May. In a last-ditch attempt to soften public backlash, Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis announced that the City is “looking at additional support to owners of properties up to R7 million.” This eleventh-hour move only highlights the uncertainty and instability within the budget and underscores the need for extended public scrutiny.
The City of Cape Town’s failure to adequately prepare for seasonal challenges is once again on full display. This summer, the city was caught off guard when it failed to open all public pools for the peak season, and now, with today's heavy rains, we are seeing history repeat itself. The Urban Mobility Department’s inability to provide effective service delivery is evident in the widespread flooding caused by blocked stormwater drains.
GOOD has taken note of recent media reports indicating that Minister of Human Settlements, Thembi Simelane, presented the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC) report on the George Building Collapse to the Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements. This important development brings the community of George one step closer to finding the answers they have been desperately seeking.
The GOOD Party congratulates our Leader, Minister Patricia de Lille on being honoured with the “Tourism Minister of the Year” award for Excellence in Governance - Infrastructure Development from the Pacific Area Travel Writers Association.
The GOOD party condemns the DA for recklessly borrowing foreign money linked to the unstable rand… Again. The City of Cape Town has borrowed R2.8bn from the German Development Bank, KfW to finance “major electricity grid upgrades”. However, the loan is actually for €150 million (which was estimated at R2.8 billion on 4 November). There is no guarantee of the rand value over the 15-year duration of the loan.
The GOOD Party is concerned about the lack of urgency displayed by senior officials at the Garden Route District Municipality to respond to the call for cost-cutting proposals to reduce the R11 million deficit facing the Municipality.
The Western Cape Commissioner of Police’s comments that it would be impossible to share evidence to anyone outside of a formal investigation, including a mayor, confirms what any common sense person would expect. The mayor’s suggestion that he received evidence from the police after they raided former Mayco Member Malusi Booi’s office, but no evidence after the police raided the offices of JP Smith and Xanthea Limberg was always patently false. No legitimate investigation by the police would include briefing a political leader about what evidence the police have.
Afriforum appears to be completely oblivious to the diplomatic storm they have created through a disinformation campaign that has no objective merit. In a briefing, CEO Kallie Kriel expressed his “great appreciation for Trump” for the “recognition of the injustice to which Afrikaners are subject in South Africa”. Afriforum are unable however to name the “injustice” they claim South African Afrikaners are experiencing.