GOOD Statement by Lulama Benge,
GOOD City of Cape Town Councillor
09 May 2025
The GOOD Party has submitted formal questions to Cape Town Executive Mayor, Geordin Hill-Lewis, in terms of rule 22 of the rules of order, requiring Hill-Lewis to account to Council. GOOD is seeking urgent answers about political patronage and the appointment of former opposition councillors in his office.
We are demanding full transparency on whether due process was followed, and whether these appointments comply with the City’s governance and HR frameworks.
We have asked the Mayor:
• What is the staff establishment and organogram for the Executive Mayor’s office?
• When were these staff establishments approved?
• What is the recruitment policy and process that applies to staff in the Executive Mayor’s office?
• Who are the incumbent staff members?
• With regards to former opposition councillors employed or previously employed in the Executive Mayor’s office (Shireen August, Lungiswa Ntshuntshe, Nigel Williams, Aslam Richards and Marvin Sampson):
o Which positions on the Executive Mayor’s office staff establishment or organogram were the former councillors appointed to, respectively?
o What were/are the qualifications and requirements for those positions?
o Did each of the former opposition councillors meet the qualifications and experience requirements for the positions they were appointed to?
o What is the T-grade of each of those positions?
o What is the salary paid to each of these employees?
o What recruitment process was followed for the appointment of each of these staff members?
• What is the current total cost of employment for the Executive Mayor’s office staff establishment/organogram
This is not a matter of political point-scoring but rather about defending the integrity of our democratic institutions and ensuring that public funds are used to serve the residents of Cape Town, not to reward political loyalty. The people of Cape Town deserve to know whether their city is being run in their best interests, or for the benefit of a few well-connected individuals.
We await the Mayor’s response and will continue to pursue every avenue to ensure accountability.
Media enquiries:media@forgood.org.za