High Court Judgment Halting Dial-A-Ride Cuts Welcomed

GOOD Statement by Roscoe Palm, GOOD City of Cape Town Councillor:

The GOOD Party warmly welcomes today’s rational and just decision by the Western Cape High Court ordering the City of Cape Town to halt its planned cuts to the Dial-a-Ride service and immediately restore it to pre-announcement levels. The Court has made it clear: until the legal challenge is heard and decided, the City may not implement its planned changes, and any reductions already made must be reversed.

In agreement between the parties, it was decided:

• The Respondent will refrain from implementing the decision communicated on 7 August 2025 to introduce changes to the Dial-a-Ride service, which were to take effect from 8 September 2025, and from taking any steps toward its implementation (‘the decision’).
• The Respondent will reverse any reductions to the Dial-a-Ride service that have already taken effect at the time of this order, and to restore the service to the level at which it functioned immediately prior to the announcement of the decision.

We call on the City to act without delay to comply with the court order and ensure that this vital service is fully operational for all affected residents.

The GOOD Party has been one of the most consistent and vocal supporters in the fight to protect Dial-a-Ride. We commend the tireless work of civil society organisations, particularly the Western Cape Network on Disability, Western Cape Association for Persons with Disabilities, Cape Town Society for the Blind, the People’s Law Centre, and the many other organisations and activists who stood up for dignity, mobility, and the rights of people with disabilities.

Today’s victory is a testament to the power of the people. It is a reminder that in a constitutional democracy, communities can and must hold government to account when it fails to uphold its obligations to the most vulnerable.

The fight is not over. We know the City will continue to argue for austerity at the expense of disabled residents, but today’s judgment sends a strong message: constitutional rights cannot simply be overridden by budget lines.

Justice has been served, for now, and the GOOD Party will continue to fight alongside our partners to ensure that the City of Cape Town delivers safe, reliable, and dignified transport for all.

GOOD Manifesto on Future Vision: Aiming for a society where all South Africans can live in harmony and prosperity.

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