GOOD Statement by Rosa Louw,
GOOD George Municipality Councillor
23 October 2025
The GOOD Party in the George Municipality has expressed serious concern that the municipality is allowing informal settlements to grow unchecked as a way of avoiding its constitutional responsibility to provide proper housing for residents. GOOD believes that all communities deserve access to essential services and dignified living conditions, not makeshift settlements that expose families to severe health and safety risks.
We are worried that informal settlements are being used as a permanent excuse for poor service delivery. The municipality must have a clear plan to replace these temporary structures with formal housing projects. Our people deserve better than the bare minimum.
According to answers provided by Western Cape Provincial Minister of Infrastructure, Tertuis Simmers, to GOOD Secretary-General Brett Herron, there are 20,914 names currently on the Western Cape Housing Demand Database for George. This figure highlights the urgent and growing need for housing in the municipality, a need that cannot be met through short-term, informal arrangements.
GOOD calls on the George Municipality to present a comprehensive housing strategy that prioritises the formalisation of informal areas and accelerates the development of sustainable, serviced housing projects.
Media enquiries: media@forgood.org.za