GOOD Statement by Roscoe Palm,
GOOD City of Cape Town Councillor
07 May 2025
The GOOD Party is calling into question the relevance of Subcouncils in Cape Town, particularly when they fail to fulfil their core mandate: holding the City accountable.
The City’s 20 Subcouncils are budgeted to receive R39 million annually, with each allocated nearly R2 million. Despite this significant public investment, GOOD maintains that Subcouncils hold little real decision-making power. Their Chairpersons earn salaries comparable to Mayoral Committee Members, yet their roles too often lack the accountability and effectiveness residents deserve.
The failures of this system were laid bare following the recent devastating wildfires across Tokai, Noordhoek, and surrounding communities. At a time when transparency and accountability should have been paramount, Subcouncil 20 Chairperson, Councillor Carolynne Franklin (DA), declined to facilitate meaningful oversight of Cape Town’s Fire and Rescue Services (FRS).
In direct correspondence following a formal request, Franklin declined to facilitate a presentation by a senior official from Fire and Rescue. Instead, she deflected responsibility by directing GOOD to enquire with SANParks, a national government entity responsible for Table Mountain National Parks, and to the Executive Director of Safety and Security, whose department falls under the City of Cape Town and the political direction of JP Smith. This is not an administrative error. It’s part of a repeated political playbook: deny oversight, misdirect questions, and shield City officials from scrutiny, especially when their failures are becoming public.
The City of Cape Town, not the national government, holds the operational responsibility for municipal firefighting resources. Yet, residents have been met with vague, inconsistent, and sometimes contradictory public communications about the availability and readiness of these resources. This lack of clarity undermines public trust and makes oversight all the more urgent.
By the City’s own definition, Subcouncils are intended to bridge the gap between residents and local government, bringing governance closer to communities. Their chairpersons are not symbolic figureheads, they are entrusted with real responsibilities, including ensuring public accountability. When that responsibility is neglected, it raises serious concerns about the true function and value of these structures. GOOD’s stance is clear: if Subcouncils cannot deliver accountability, they risk becoming costly, ineffective vehicles for political patronage.
Given that Councillor Franklin herself described the wildfires as “Armageddon” and “a war zone,” it is reasonable to expect strong leadership and follow-through to prevent future disasters. The time for action is now.
The GOOD Party stands with residents and firefighters demanding answers. We will continue to push for transparency and accountability in the interest of protecting lives, homes, and communities. We await the Subcouncil meeting on 21 May 2025 at Alphen Centre to see whether oversight will finally be prioritised.
Media Enquiries:media@forgood.org.za