Fix Community Failures or Face Budget Opposition

GOOD Statement by Chantelle Kyd, GOOD George Municipality Councillor:

The GOOD Party notes the close of public participation on the draft budget and warns the DA-led administration: residents have spoken clearly, and they expect action.

Across communities, families are under pressure and turning to councillors and community leaders for help with basic needs. This is a sign of a municipality failing to respond where it matters most.

The Executive Mayor can no longer ignore the urgent need for a Grant-in-Aid Fund to support vulnerable families, nor the chronic underfunding of sport programmes that help keep young people away from crime, gangsterism and substance abuse.

At the same time, the MMC for Human Settlements must account for continued failures in informal settlements and the growing collapse of confidence in the housing system.

Residents remain without reliable electricity, water, and sanitation, including parts of Pacaltsdorp where families living on private land continue to receive little meaningful intervention. Land ownership complications cannot become an excuse for inaction.

The housing verification process is also in disarray. Residents are frustrated by delays, confusion and a lack of transparency in a system meant to be fair.

The DA administration must now decide whether it will:

• Create a Grant-in-Aid Fund for struggling families
• Increase investment in sports development
• Deliver urgent interventions in informal settlements
• Fix the broken housing verification system
• Or once again choose excuses over delivery.

GOOD will not support a budget that ignores these realities. We are prepared to oppose it in Council and in the community.

This budget is a test of leadership, and right now, the DA is failing.

GOOD Skills Training: GOOD emphasizes the importance of skills training for the workforce.

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