GOOD Statement by Suzette Little,
GOOD City of Cape Town Councillor & Caucus Chairperson
7 December 2023
The City of Cape Town this week jumped to table a new Outdoor Advertising by-law after residents of the Bokaap who erected pro-Palestine signs outside their homes were threatened by law enforcement officers over the weekend of 25-26 November.
We understand that residents who attended the switching on of the lights that weekend were also threatened with being fined for carrying the Palestinian flag.
On Monday 27 November the City distributed the proposed new by-law, to be debated by Council today.
The proposed by-law is startingly reminiscent of apartheid legislation that banned the display of materials advocating for justice. It is like a piece of PW Botha’s emergency legislation. It would certainly make Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu proud.
The City wants its by-law to control the display of signage on road reserves, including road shoulders and sidewalks, and on all public facades. In other words, anywhere where anyone can see it!
“Murals and artwork which do not advertise or are not signs in themselves and which
are approved in terms of the City’s public artwork permitting system,” are permitted, as are national flags “on suitable flag poles” and property names and/or numbers.
Besides outlawing fixed signage, the City seeks to outlaw walking advertisements, including walking sandwich boards, and hand held signs.
It begs the question whether the City intends further harassing homeless people, by acting against them for the signs they carry at traffic lights requesting money, or whether the City is purely focussed on clamping down on political protests.
The City of Cape Town should realise that it cannot control what residents think. The apartheid government thought it could, but was ultimately forced to cede power.
By banning residents from expressing themselves where they live and play, whether by displaying a verse from the Bible or a Palestinian flag, the City assumes the role of thought police.
What is happening in Gaza profoundly disturbs us, as Capetonians, because we recognise the injustice of apartheid, and how difficult it was to get rid of it.
The City of Cape Town should be proud of its residents who stand up for justice.
The GOOD Party does not support this by-law in its current format.
We encourage our members to continue advocating for justice, be it against Gender-Based Violence or the inhumanity of Israel’s policies and actions. We specifically encourage members who wish to display Palestinian flags at home to continue to do so.
Media Enquiries:
Suzette Little, GOOD City of Cape Town Councillor & Caucus Chairperson
Cell: 073 321 5036
Email: suzettel@forgood.org.za
Janke Tolmay, GOOD Media Manager
Cell: 073 367 1223
Email: janke@forgood.org.za