GOOD Statement by Roscoe Palm,
GOOD City of Cape Town Councillor
08 June 2026
Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis is once again fooling the public when it comes to housing delivery. His latest stunt of yet another ceremonial handover, this time at Salt River Market, is another in a long line of the Democratic Alliance’s broken promises and meaningless photo opportunities.
The City sees housing as ceremonial, not brick and mortar. These handovers are misdirection, a sleight of hand that the DA has plays time and again.
Founders Garden was announced for release in 2025. Previously this project was announced in 2010, re-announced for social housing in 2016. And then finally, the DA-run government announced it would be released in 2019. It’s been announced four times.
It’s been announced four times, but not a brick has been laid.
The proposed housing development slated for the Civic Centre parking lot that was announced in 2026, was first conceptualised first in 2018.
Much media ink has been spilled, but not a brick has been laid.
The space known as the Fruit and Veg site in Roeland Street was announced in 2017. It was re-announced in a public ceremony in 2022. And then in 2025 Mayor Hill-Lewis re-re-announced it as released for social housing.
Three announcements, but not a brick has been laid.
The Newmarket Street site in Woodstock was announced in 2017. It was cancelled in December 2019, before being re-announced in June 2024.
Yes, no, maybe? But not a brick has been laid.
The much-vaunted Leeuloop was announced last year. But it was previously announced by the DA-run government back in 2010.
Pickwick Street was announced in 2017. It was cancelled in 2018, before being re-announced in 2020.
Press releases are flying, but not a brick has been laid for Capetonians in a housing crisis.
Pine Road was transferred to the City of Cape Town in 2011. The original residents of Pine Road have been shuffled here and there before being trapped in restricted access hostel-like conditions in Pickwick Transitional Housing in Salt River.
Promises have been broken, and not a single brick has been laid.
There are more than 450 000 people on the housing waiting list in the DA-run City of Cape Town. This year, they are building barely more than one thousand units. Democratic Alliance publicity stunts and photo ops don’t put a roof over anyone’s head.
Geordin Hill-Lewis is a friend of developers. Cape Town is for sale at rock bottom prices to developers. Land and properties that could have been used for public good not for private profit.
Media Enquiries: media@forgood.org.za