GOOD Statement by Cynthia Clayton,
GOOD Theewaterskloof Councillor & Deputy Mayor
19 May 2026
The GOOD Party, the Democratic Alliance, and the Social Revolutionary Workers Party are currently in a coalition in the Theewaterskloof Municipality. GOOD believes that we must govern together with honesty and integrity in order to serve all communities fairly and equally.
The severe storms and rainfall that affected the Western Cape on 11 and 12 May 2026 also had a significant impact on the Theewaterskloof Municipality and its towns. The disaster left several communities severely affected and in a state of disarray.
The Social Development Department in Riviersonderend requested humanitarian relief for 30 affected people. On Thursday, the current Democratic Alliance (DA) Mayor and two DA Executive Committee members reportedly received aid without informing Council.
These resources, provided by Gift of the Givers, were intended for Riviersonderend but did not reach the local council there; instead, they were delivered to Caledon. According to the Relief Policy, no councillor may receive relief aid directly. Only duly authorised municipal officials are permitted to receive these resources and oversee their distribution to affected beneficiaries.
This was not the case in the Theewaterskloof Municipality, where DA councillors allegedly took it upon themselves to distribute the aid.
The DA Mayor failed to inform the other parties represented in Council about the relief resources intended for Riviersonderend.
It appears that party politics may have influenced the handling of these relief resources, raising serious concerns about whether aid intended for vulnerable residents was used for political gain.
As a partner in the Theewaterskloof coalition, GOOD is deeply disappointed that it was not informed by the DA, a party that publicly advocates for clean governance and opposition to corruption yet appears to have acted inconsistently in this matter.
As GOOD, we call for this incident to be thoroughly investigated, including why relief resources intended for Riviersonderend were offloaded in Caledon instead.
Media Enquiries: media@forgood.org.za