GOOD Statement by Lulama Benge,
GOOD City of Cape Town Councillor
19 January 2024
Mountains of garbage and waste continue to pile up around Cape Town informal settlements while the City is dragging its feet to take action.
GOOD recently wrote to the Mayor to demand the immediate suspension of Mayco member, Grant Twigg, as well as Executive Director Luzuko Mdunyelwa, for their role in the collapse of waste collection services.
Not only has no one been held accountable, but the City is clearly in no rush to address the filthy consequences of this failure.
Recent site visits to Gugulethu, Philippi, and Nyanga revealed the disgraceful circumstances in which the City expects some of its residents to live (photos attached).
There is absolutely no doubt that this would not have been the case should this disaster have unfolded in a leafy suburb.
Clearly, those in charge did not bother to leave their air-conditioned offices and see for themselves the conditions of some of these informal settlements.
Earlier this month, media reports cited an internal report into the collapse of these crucial services in the City.
The residents deserve honest and transparent answers, and for the City’s leadership to prioritise all of its residents and to urgently clean up both its internal mess and the streets of its world class city.
There needs to be a thorough examination of the role of the Mayco Member in this debacle.
Mayco Members have a duty to provide political leadership and to exercise effective oversight of their departments.
Clearly Twigg failed to exercise oversight and failed to provide political leadership. He’s unfit for purpose.
Heads must roll if residents are let down by those who need to act in their best interest.
Media Enquiries:
Lulama Benge, GOOD City of Cape Town Councillor
Cell: 060 688 8384
Email: lulamab@forgood.org.za
Janke Tolmay, GOOD Media Manager
Cell: 073 367 1223
Email: janke@forgood.org.za