Victory for DCI Tenants

GOOD Statement by Axolile Notywala, GOOD City of Cape Town Councillor:

On Friday, 15 August 2025, tenants of the DCI Social Housing facility in Goodwood received written confirmation that their monthly fixed water and electricity charges will be reduced by 75.6% from September 2025 onwards.

This means a combined saving of R533.60 per household per month

• Electricity fixed charges will drop from R390.87 to R115.00 per month
• Water fixed charges will drop from R315.23 to R57.50 per month
• Tenants will also now receive the first 6 kilolitres of cold water free each month

This breakthrough follows sustained pressure from the GOOD Party, civil society organisations, and tenants who have consistently raised concerns about unaffordable utility costs at social housing facilities.

In response to my request at the Human Settlements Portfolio Committee on 06 June 2025, Human Settlements Planning Director Lawrence Valeta confirmed on 01 August 2025 that DCI had been incorrectly charged business/commercial tariffs due to PRASA’s lease agreement not reflecting the development’s social housing usage. I thank Director Valeta for the diligent and transparent manner in which he addressed this matter.

Tenants at other facilities, including Conradie Park under the Own Haven Housing Association, face similar exploitative charges and have also reached out for assistance. Which is why GOOD continues to call for a full investigation into the management of social housing facilities across Cape Town.

The DCI outcome shows the power of organised tenants who refused to remain silent in the face of unfair treatment. Despite alleged intimidation and even physical attacks on some tenant leaders, residents have stood together to demand fairness, dignity, and accountability. Their persistence has directly delivered this victory.

While serious challenges remain at DCI, including intimidation of tenant leaders, transparency concerns, and service quality issues, this development is a significant win for social housing tenants and proof that collective action, coupled with political and administrative accountability, can yield results.

South Africa cannot claim to be building inclusive cities while poor and working-class residents are priced out of their homes by unfair utility charges. Everyone deserves affordable, dignified housing.

GOOD Civic Education: The party promotes civic education to encourage informed citizenship.

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