GOOD Statement by Chantelle Kyd, GOOD George Councillor:
The online auction of the tragic George building collapse site, taking place today and tomorrow, is utterly unacceptable.
The GOOD Party demands that the George Municipality immediately intervene so that this land be dedicated to a permanent memorial for the victims and their grieving families.
Their call for a memorial park has gone unanswered, even as the auction proceeds, disregarding the strong dissatisfaction expressed by community members during the recent Portfolio Committee visit to Thembalethu.
The Municipality’s conduct in the aftermath of the collapse is indefensible.
We accuse the George administration of deliberately delaying the vital safety review, despite confirming months ago, on 31 July, in response to GOOD’s written questions, that the process was already underway. Why the silence? Why are affected communities still waiting? And why does the Municipality only appear to “take action” when public outrage forces its hand? This is not poor communication; it is a profound failure of governance.
Worse still, the Municipality actively suppressed the very oversight that could have exposed the weaknesses leading to this tragedy.
From March to May, our councillor, Cllr Kyd, was repeatedly obstructed by the DA-led administration when she attempted to strengthen building safety controls.
Her formal requests to review the management of building control officers and to conduct her own site visits were explicitly refused. After being silenced on the Municipality’s biggest safety failure, GOOD withdrew from the coalition on 29 May. We refused to be complicit in a government more concerned with protecting itself than with protecting the public.
Residents of George deserve far more than hollow assurances.
GOOD therefore demands that the Municipality request the immediate suspension of the auction so that it can acquire the land by purchase or expropriation.
It cannot be allowed to proceed while families continue to grieve and while serious questions about accountability remain unanswered.
The Municipality must enter urgent discussions with the developer on expropriation of the land for a memorial site.
This tragedy must mark a turning point. It is time for the Municipality to abandon political spin and deliver substance, justice, and genuine protection to the people of George.
GOOD Land Reform: The party supports fair land reform that respects property rights.
Spooky Electric
Eina! – ouch! [Ay-na] Usually expressed when someone experiences a sharp pain of some sort.
Moon Cricket
Denmark: You have two cows. They have more rights than you.