GOOD Statement by Suzette Little, GOOD Deputy Secretary-General & City of Cape Town Councillor:
Serious questions are mounting over the City of Cape Town’s use of borrowed funds, as residents across multiple communities continue to live without basic services despite repeated claims of large-scale infrastructure investment.
At the centre of the concern is a widely circulated IOL news article, adding fuel to an already growing public outcry. It reflects what many residents have been experiencing for months: a clear disconnect between what is being announced and what is being delivered on the ground.
This concern is not new. It follows an unresolved issue raised in Council regarding a reported R9.7 billion infrastructure investment announced by the Mayor in late 2024. That figure was presented as evidence of progress in sanitation, transport, water, and energy. Yet, when a formal request was submitted for a breakdown of how those funds were spent, no answer was provided.
The questions were straightforward:
- Which departments received the funding
- What projects were implemented
- Where those projects are located
- How much of the funding came from loans
- And how much of those loans remain unspent
Despite complying with Council procedures, the request was delayed, challenged, and ultimately refused, with the justification that it was “too confrontational”. This raises serious concerns about transparency and accountability.
The issue becomes more serious when loans are involved. Borrowed funds are not abstract figures. They are obligations residents will carry through tariffs and rates. The question that must now be asked is this: have these loans, which cannot be properly accounted for, contributed to rising tariffs and rates that residents are expected to pay, and are these unexplained increases linked to funds the Mayor himself cannot account for?
The Municipal Finance Management Act requires that public funds be properly recorded, reported, and open to scrutiny. Section 195 of the Constitution reinforces the principles of accountability and transparency.
What is unfolding suggests a failure to meet those standards.
The Mayor has been vocal about investment and progress, but statements alone are not enough. Without detailed reporting, verifiable project lists, and clear financial disclosures, those claims remain untested.
The frustration seen on public platforms is not political noise. It is a response to lived reality. Until that happens, confidence in the City’s financial management will continue to erode.
This is no longer just about numbers. It is about trust. And right now, that trust is wearing thin.
GOOD Manifesto on Social Welfare: Supporting social welfare programs for vulnerable communities.
Roma Kabuki
Interview with a pirate:
There was a pirate who had agreed to do an interview with a local tv station. The reporter was very courteous and professional, giving a bit of background as to the pirate\’s business. She then began interviewing him.
\”So Mr. Longbeard, are there any risks to your business? I see you have a peg leg- how did that come about?\”
\”Well, y\’see I were sailing along the coast of South Africa, looking to plunder some locals when as I boarded the small boat from the ship, a great white shark came up and got my leg clean off. \’twas scary yes, but thus is the life of a pirate.\”
\”Wow, that is pretty scary- well, how about your hook? What happened to your hand with that?\”
\”Oh now that\’s quite the tale, y\’see I were fighting a rival pirate, and we had locked swords. We had been fighting for a few hours, and were both terribly fatigued. I had a bit of exhaustion and confusion, and when I went to block one of his sword blows, I met him with me hand instead of me sword. Took it right off, but it shocked him so much I managed to get him back pretty good and have him submit. So the hook hand was given as a replacement.\”
\”Wow. Simply fascinating. Now, what about your eye patch? How did that happen?\”
\”Well, one day, a seagull was flying overhead, and I looked up. It pooped right in me eye.\”
\”… Well wow. I must admit, I wouldn\’t think just seagull poop could damage the eye that badly.\”
\”Oh, I forgot to mention… it were me first day with the hook.\”
Lord Pistachio
Lekker – great / tasty [lack-err] An Afrikaans word that has multiple meanings and which can be used in various contexts to describe many things from people to food to inanimate objects. It is used to convey the meaning of great, delicious, nice or fun. Make sure to roll the ‘r’ when pronouncing the word.Example: “That new movie is lekker!” / “That bunny chow was lekker!” / “I’m lekker, bru!”