GOOD Statement by Suzette Little,
GOOD City of Cape Town Councillor & Caucus Chairperson
24 August 2023
GOOD condemns the EFF in Cape Town for collapsing the council meeting.
EFF councillors interrupted Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis, holding placards reading “JP Smith has blood on his hands”.
GOOD agrees that Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith needs to be held accountable for his role in the violent Taxi Strike that saw five lives lost.
However, sending the chamber into chaos will not bring about accountability.
It was clear that taxi operators felt victimised by the leadership of the city and JP Smith. They believed their operations were being unfairly targeted by vindictive policing operations.
Child-like comments made by Smith only fuelled an already tense situation. He was quoted as saying “we will proceed with impounding 25 vehicles for every truck, bus, vehicle or facility that is burnt or vandalised”.
As GOOD, we requested this debate so that the City executives could be held accountable for their role in the strike.
An hour was already a stretch to get all the issues ventilated and the actions of the EFF will only further damage our pursuit of the truth.
Media Enquiries:
Suzette Little, GOOD City of Cape Town Councillor
Cell: 073 321 5036
Email: suzettel@forgood.org.za
Samantha Jackson, GOOD Acting Media Manager
Cell: 083 550 9875
Email: media@forgood.org.za