GOOD Statement by Wesley Neumann, GOOD City of Cape Town Councillor:
The announcement by the City of Cape Town to close and repurpose the Bellville Velodrome under the guise of a “world-class upgrade” is a betrayal of the highest order towards the cycling community and the residents of this city.
Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis and his Mayoral Committee must be held accountable for their disingenuous and uncaring behaviour in the handling of a public asset such as the Velodrome.
The City of Cape Town Mayoral Committee has approved a development with Devmark Property Group despite strong public calls to preserve the velodrome. The matter stems from a 2009 dispute where a court declared the lease void, yet elements of that agreement appear revived, including a “no escalation” clause, despite a court of law making a binding pronouncement of it.
As GOOD, we will investigate the legality and whether this complies with administrative justice, constitutional principles, and lawful governance.
Residents were led to believe that the velodrome had been secured, that their voices had been heard. Yet the announcement exposes that assurance for what it was, empty promises and DA- spinning.
The narrative that the velodrome is being “retained” is deliberately misleading. You cannot claim to save a facility while simultaneously stripping it of its core function and international standard.
This, long after a protracted legal dispute with Devmark, was considered settled and finalised. This raises serious questions about the basis on which this matter has been revived after the extensive time lapse.
There has been a clear absence of meaningful public participation and consideration, and critically, the matter was not properly processed through the relevant Portfolio Committee, denying elected councillors the opportunity for transparent oversight and engagement.
Instead, this deal has been rushed through to a full Council sitting, intensifying concerns about governance, procedural fairness, and accountability.
The Bellville Velodrome is the only Olympic-standard velodrome on the African continent, a facility that has supported generations of cyclists and established Cape Town as a leading centre for track cycling in Africa.
Cape Town deserves better. Our athletes deserve better!
This decision should not be forgotten at the POLLS at the end of this year. The DA-led City of Cape Town has failed the thousands of cyclists and the dreams of as many youths!
As GOOD, we call on the cycling community to unite, organise, and stand together and to oppose this unjust decision to remove a vital community asset.
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