GOOD Statement by Roscoe Palm,
GOOD City of Cape Town Councillor
08 May 2025
The GOOD Party is alarmed by the ongoing unethical practices at the Pickwick Transitional Housing project in Salt River, despite recent intervention by GOOD councillors. Residents who exposed arbitrary rules and substandard living conditions are now being targeted by the management company tasked with running the facility.
Today, tenants were presented with a lease addendum and coerced into signing without being allowed to photograph the documents, seek advice, or take them for review. Residents were explicitly told they would only receive a copy after signing, a practice that violates their basic rights. The GOOD Party is in possession of a recording that confirms this conduct.
This behaviour flagrantly undermines the commitments made in good faith by the City of Cape Town and its representatives. It is also reminiscent of the City’s broken promises to former Pine Road residents, who were relocated to Pickwick on “temporary” basis 6 years ago.
The transcript of a resident’s interaction with a staff member is deeply troubling:
Resident: Can I take a picture of this (the lease agreement addendum)?
Management Company Employee: No no no no no.
Resident: Can I take it with me and bring it back?
Employee: You sign. We scan. And then we make a copy for you. Because we know you are going to use it somewhere.
Resident: Where must I use it?
Employee: No, we are being experienced. Previously we gave a warning to you and you gave it to the politicians. And it’s actually illegal that you gave documents that pertain to your stay here to other people that have nothing to do with your welfare.
This conduct is not only unethical but potentially criminal. The City of Cape Town must immediately intervene and hold its contracted agents accountable. Residents deserve transparency, dignity, and legal protection, not intimidation and rights violations.
Media Enquiries:media@forgood.org.za