Council meeting 24 April 2025
24 April 2025
Madam Speaker,
Fellow Councillors,
Honoured Guests and Members of the public and media,
Goeie more, Molweni, As-Alamu-Alaykum, Shalom, Good Morning,
Madam Speaker, I request that we observe a moment of silence to honour the passing of the Catholic Holy Father, Pope Francis.
Madam Speaker, Every now and then, a city must pause to ask itself a fundamental question: Why are we doing it?
Today, we will not just go through a checklist of accomplishments. But rather reflect on this question which matters: the why?
It is reminder that behind every budget line, every policy, and every project — there are real people, real challenges, and a shared future we are responsible for shaping.
In a time where despair is easy and decline nationally feels inevitable, Cape Town chooses a different path.
We choose to act.
We choose to build.
And above all, we choose to elieve — not in empty optimism, but in the power of capable government to deliver change that is felt in the lives of ordinary people…
Madam Speaker- as always - plenty has happened since our last Council meeting.
But before diving into all the details, let me take a moment to welcome some new and not so new Cllrs to the Council Chamber.
ANC- I would like to welcome Councillor Ndietienie Tcheedo
NCC- Councillors Rochelle Minnaar and Dean Goliath
DA- Welcome to Councillors Betty Duly Mmmkinase and Bongisa Maaka and welcome back to Councillor Shaun August.
Madam Speaker, as elected officials, we have the responsibility to recognise the extraordinary efforts of ordinary Capetonians. Across our city, in every community, there are individuals who lead with courage, serve with humility, and quietly shape the future. Just a couple of weeks ago, I had the incredible privilege of running the Total Sports Two Oceans half-marathon alongside firefighter heroes Jermaine Carelse and Renaldo Duncan, who are here today, as well as Volunteer Wildfire Services members Liam Gannon and Thomas Lennon.
Madam Speaker, let me tell you, running a road race is tough enough but doing it with all that extra firefighting gear.
That’s next-level dedication!
They took on the race in support of the Volunteer Wildfire Service (VWS), raising awareness and much-needed funds for their crucial work.
Watching them push through while still keeping their energy high and their spirits even higher was truly inspiring. They weren’t just running; they were making connections, stopping to take photos, chatting with fellow runners, and bringing an electric atmosphere to the road.
And all that effort paid off as they managed to raise just over R230,000, smashing last year's total of R181, 000!
Madam Speaker, I’m sure you’ve noticed, just like I have, all the graduation ceremonies happening across our city's tertiary institutions.
I’m inspired by all the achievements and would like to congratulate -on behalf of this Council - all the students who have graduated from tertiary institutions across Cape Town.
I have seen and read beautiful stories of students celebrating their success and attributing their achievements to their parents, grandparents, families and communities for supporting them through their studies.
We have invited one such student to be here today, so that we can acknowledge him.
Abduraghmaan Arendse from Manenberg is accompanied by his mother, Zanap Arendse. He graduated from UWC with a BCom degree Cum Laude.
Abduraghmaan, well done. It is abundantly clear that you choose success!
Furthermore, joining us in the Chambers today is the triumphant University of Cape Town rugby team, also known as the Ikey Tigers.
A warm welcome to UCT Vice-Chancellor, Professor Mosa Moshabela, my former Stormers teammate and coach, Robbie Fleck, team Captain Sipho Dyonase, along with the management and players.
Last week Monday, the Ikey Tigers claimed victory over Stellenbosch University at the Danie Craven Stadium in the Varsity cup competition, breaking an 11-year drought since their last triumph in the tournament.
Prof, Fleckie, and Sipho, you have every reason to celebrate this remarkable achievement, and we share in your pride as a city.
Congratulations to you all!...
Finally, to the soccer enthusiasts, rest assured Cape Town's most prestigious U-19 soccer tournament, the Bayhill Premier Cup, remains front and centre.
Some 194 teams from across the country battle it out in the qualifying stages, but only 32 earn the honour of competing in the main tournament.
Reaching this stage is no small feat.
Congratulations to Ubuntu Football Academy and your co-founders, Casey Prince and Michael Jenkins on your well-deserved 2–0 victory over Randburg Football Academy. As a football club rooted in Ocean View, your accomplishments are nothing short of extraordinary.
You truly embody the spirit of partnership in building a city of hope—not just for the players, but for the families they represent.
Madam Speaker, winter is approaching.
As it draws near, it brings with it the biting cold, heavy rainfall and a lingering concern for many of our residents.
The harsh winters we experience point to areas where our infrastructure is most fragile, where the safety nets are thinnest, where poverty bites hardest.
But each winter that passes, this fragility is minimised.
More than this, Madam Speaker, winter also has the power to reveal something else: our capacity to care, to act, and to stand together.
We have long been a city of community.
Of helping.
Of kindness.
Of a responsibility to others.
As we turn toward the colder months, our city enters a time of heightened alert, preparation, and care.
Despite the unique challenges which winter brings, it also serves as a reminder that our city is strongest when we act together.
And that the future we want to build — safer, fairer, and more resilient— begins with the actions we take today…….
Madam Speaker, let us be clear—the City of Cape Town remains steadfast in its commitment to upholding this responsibility with the utmost seriousness.
We are not only preparing to respond to the coming conditions — we are already actively working to reduce risk before winter arrives in full.
By the end of March, our teams successfully jet-cleaned more than 281 kilometres of sewer lines—an impressive achievement that exceeds the initial target of 200 kilometres, with two months still remaining in the financial year.
This cleaning is crucial removing blockages before they become disasters.
Our stormwater systems, ponds, canals and gullies are being cleared in flood-prone areas, especially in those communities most vulnerable to heavy rainfall.
In high-risk informal areas, our Disaster Risk Management teams are not waiting for emergencies to occur.
We are on the ground, distributing pamphlets, loud-hailing warnings, and installing signage in areas most likely to flood — helping residents prepare with the right information at the right time.
Plastic sheeting and sand are being delivered to households who need it, through proactive monitoring by our Informal Settlements Department.
And across the city, tree-trimming on public property is under way to protect power lines before storms can bring them down and cause major interruptions for residents. This is winter readiness in action. And it reflects a simple truth: good governance is not reactive — it is proactive.
It anticipates needs, prevents crises, and equips communities.
That is our job, and we are doing it with urgency and focus.
At the same time, even the most efficient government cannot do it all alone.
A truly prepared city — a city ready for winter and ready for tomorrow — is one where citizens step forward alongside their government.
A city where people don’t wait to be reminded, but act because they care.
Because they know their role matters.
Every person who picks up litter before it blocks a drain is helping to prevent a flood.
Every neighbour who checks in on a vulnerable household during a storm is helping to save a life.
Every soup kitchen that opens its doors, every resident who reports a waterlogged road, every street committee that mobilises around safety — these are not small acts.
This is what we mean by shared responsibility.
Not passing the buck — but recognising that the buck doesn’t stop in one place. It stops with all of us.
I want to give a tangible example of this, Madam Speaker.
Since 2023, our hardworking teams have cleared over 629 sewer blockages in Dunoon alone. That translates to nearly one blockage per day on average.
These blockages are often due to the flushing down of physical objects or dumping of foreign objects into our sewer lines.
With the heavy rains which winter brings, this is a recipe for disaster.
I want to quote my colleague, Cllr Badroodien who said that “it will take a collaborative effort by local residents, supported by the City, to change their waste disposal habits and break the cycle.”
This is the collaboration and citizen responsibility I am referring to.
The beauty of this approach is that it reminds us that big change is often built on small, everyday choices.
That is why we are not just asking citizens to be vigilant — we are inviting them to be partners in progress.
Because when citizens are active, involved, and informed, we build not only a city resilient to winter — we build a stronger Cape Town.
And we send a powerful message to the next generation: that being a citizen is not just about living here.
It’s about Building here.
It’s about Contributing here.
It’s about Belonging here.
We want to grow a city where readiness is part of our everyday culture — not something we switch on when a storm is coming.
That culture begins in homes, schools, community halls and small businesses. It grows when residents take initiative.
To support this, the City is not only focused on prevention — we are also creating capacity for care.
This winter, we are expanding beds at shelters and City-run Safe Spaces so that more vulnerable people can come off the streets and into safety.
To this effect, the City’s Community, Arts and Culture Development Department has been increasing support for NPOs across our city to ensure these organisations have the needed resources for the months ahead.
This support represents an additional 200 beds across Cape Town in addition to the over 1000 safe space beds we already offer across facilities in the city.
That is a tangible difference which ensures that we are preparing for the months ahead.
The City will always carry the core duties of governance — from infrastructure to disaster response, to caring for our most vulnerable residents.
But a modern, thriving city also needs engaged citizens,
ready to act,
ready to lead,
and ready to partner.
In that sense, winter readiness is more than a technical process — it is a civic moment.
An opportunity for all of us to recommit to the idea that this is our city, and we each have a role in shaping it.
Madam Speaker, I want to encourage all residents to get involved this winter.
That’s what makes a democracy work — not just voting every five years, but participating every day.
Speaking up.
Looking out.
Stepping forward.
Madam Speaker, we often speak of infrastructure, investment, and innovation - and rightly so.
These are the engines that power a modern and innovative city. But they are not goals in and of themselves.
Their true value lies in what they make possible: better lives, broader opportunity, and real dignity for our people.
Because in the end, the success of any government is not simply measured in plans or policies - it’s measured in whether our residents feel seen, served, and supported.
That’s why we’ve placed such strong emphasis on strengthening the link between the City of Cape Town and every Capetonian.
Accessing city services is not a privilege determined by your area code.
It is a basic right that must reach every corner of Cape Town – equally.
It’s the foundation upon which access and opportunity are built.
When a resident knows how to log a service request, apply for a rebate, or report a burst pipe, that’s not just a competent administration.
That’s connection.
That’s empowerment.
That’s government reaching its purpose……
Madam Speaker, let me take this moment to acknowledge the extraordinary work of our officials and service teams.
I’d like to use a very recent example of the power outage affecting Langa, Pinelands, Ndabeni, Epping, and Bonteheuwel.
The Energy team worked right through the night and the Easter weekend to ensure power was restored as quickly as possible.
These colleagues are the lifeblood of a responsive city.
Their work does not always make headlines, but it keeps this city moving……
Madam Speaker, we must confront a difficult truth: too many Capetonians still don’t know how to access these services.
The systems exist, the people are ready to help, the processes have been streamlined, but if our residents don’t know how or where to connect with us, then we are failing to close the loop.
Even worse, there are those who actively benefit from that disconnect.
We have seen a growing wave of political disinformation - parties and individuals who trade in cynicism, deliberately creating a knowledge gap to push the false narrative that services are absent.
This tactic may score points on social media, but it does real harm to communities.
And let us hope, Madam Speaker, that such theatrics remain outside the walls of this chamber, though, I’ll leave that to the conscience of each member here today.
And Madam Speaker, it is precisely because of this that we launched the Mayoral Service Delivery Blitz.
A hands-on, citywide initiative that takes the full power of local government directly into our communities.
This is not a photo opportunity.
It is a practical intervention designed to cut through confusion, fight disinformation, and build direct relationships between the City and the people we serve.
In recent months, we’ve visited Atlantis, Mitchells Plain, and Kraaifontein, where hundreds of residents have been assisted with everything from municipal accounts to building plan approvals.
These blitzes also provide critical education on how residents can engage the city on their own. How to take ownership of their access to services, and not be at the mercy of hearsay or gatekeeping.
And we’re not stopping.
I’m pleased to announce that the next Service Delivery Blitz will take place on 14 May, in Ward 42, covering parts of Matroosfontein.
These are areas too often neglected in national narratives, but never in ours.
Because we do not believe in passive government. We believe in a government that shows up…..
Madam Speaker, when we – under the leadership of Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis - set out on this journey nearly three and a half years ago, we did so with a promise:
That Cape Town would be proof - living, breathing proof - that decline is not destiny.
That a city can work.
That poverty can be rolled back.
That dignity can be restored - not by slogans or speeches, but by getting things done, street by street, home by home, heart by heart.
A pensioner who walks into a Service Delivery Blitz and leaves knowing how to access rebates - that is hope.
A small business owner who receives clarity on zoning - that is economic opportunity unlocked.
A young person who learns how to apply for a skills programme - that is dignity restored.
Ons sal aanhou blitz.
Ons sal annhou om Kapenars te verbind.
Ons sal annhou om Kapenars te bidien.
Because in Cape Town, we believe that the city of tomorrow is not something we inherit - it’s something we build together, today…….
And Madam Speaker, each passing day, we are moving closer to building this city of tomorrow.
From Early Childhood Development Centres (ECDs)
to affordable housing,
urban mobility,
water and sanitation,
community health,
and Economic stimulus initiatives
We are making significant strides to build a more inclusive, sustainable, and equitable future for all residents of Cape Town…….
Madam Speaker, ECDs centres serve as a crucial foundation, shaping the future of our children.
They are essential in nurturing the next generation.
This is why ECDs must remain at the heart of our efforts to build a future of hope for Cape Town.
However, Madam Speaker, the reality is that many ECDs still face systemic barriers that prevent them from being registered and accessing the financial support they need.
We recognise these challenges.
That’s why our ECD Task Team is working tirelessly to remove these barriers and to ensure that we reach more communities.
Today, I am proud to announce that the first fully zoning-compliant and National Building Regulations-approved ECD in Heideveld has already broken ground.
The ECD will be constructed using 5,000 tyres and various recycled materials, making it a more cost-effective alternative to conventional building methods.
However, the process requires significantly more labour. To support the project, workers from Heideveld have been trained in techniques for repurposing recycled materials in construction.
This, Madam Speaker, is a groundbreaking achievement, and it is only the beginning of where we want to be.
In recognition of the pressures faced by working families, the City has also exempted ECDs from paying planning application fees.
An Independent Analysis has stated that this reform will benefit over 1,500 ECDs, 58,000 children, and more than 7,000 staff members.
This… is reform…. making a difference.
A tangible difference,
And for many children, a life-changing difference.
But Madam Speaker, we are going further than that.
We have introduced a fund to assist qualifying ECDs with development contributions.
At this point, joining us in the gallery today is Mrs Michelle Wagner from Legos Educare in Grassy Park in the gallery.
Mrs Wagner benefited from the City’s Fund aimed at covering developing charges.
Mrs Wagner was assisted with up to 75% of her development charges, allowing her to expand her educare and reach more vulnerable children.
These centres, which often operate with limited resources, are a lifeline for children who depend on them not only for education but also for daily nutrition.
We remain steadfast in our commitment to expand ECD access in vulnerable communities.
With forward-thinking policy and collaborative efforts, we will transform Cape Town—
one child,
one centre,
and one community at a time.
Madam Speaker, I now shift our focus to the issue of urbanisation and growth.
Rapid urbanisation places massive pressure on housing departments across all spheres of government.
We have to meet this challenge in an innovative manner.
We have to think out of the box, or we will fail the people we serve.
This is why expanding affordable housing across our city is an imperative.
At the outset of this term, we outlined our IDP and committed to addressing informality in Cape Town in a sustainable manner.
One way of doing this is through the City’s Affordable Rental Units.
Reimagining Affordable Housing remains a challenge that continues to grow in cities across the world.
Here in Cape Town, we have seen how Affordable Rental Units can help alleviate the housing backlog at little cost to the city whilst creating economic opportunities for our residents.
Since 2020, the City has altered its approach from regulating small-scale rental housing to actively embracing it.
This shift has been transformative.
Through the Land Release Mayoral Priority Programme, we are working on a more operational framework for Affordable Housing.
Once again, we are strengthening the link between government and residents.
To this effect, Madam Speaker, we are proposing an important change to our Township Development Charges Fund.
A fund designed to unlock development, support affordability, and bring more Capetonians into formal, dignified housing.
Currently, state employees are excluded from applying to the fund.
It is therefore recommended that we amend the criteria as follows:
First — that state employees be eligible to apply to the fund, with the exception of political office bearers and those in senior management and executive positions, in line with the Employment Equity Act.
Second — that we reaffirm our commitment to protecting the most vulnerable by ensuring certain groups, including pensioners and those receiving social welfare grants, are eligible for a full subsidy.
1. This is a step towards fairness.
2. A step towards inclusion.
3. And a step that brings us closer to our goal: a city where the doors of opportunity are open to more people, not fewer.
No one’s path to housing should be blocked by bureaucracy. Not in this city. Not under this government.
I am urging all those who qualify for this fund to apply……
But, Madam Speaker, we are not stopping there.
In addition to existing projects, another exciting development in Cape Town is the proposed mixed-use development on prime Green Point property.
This initiative aims to revitalize an underutilized area at 1 Three Anchor Bay Road by introducing a mixed-use development that will drive both economic and socio-economic benefits.
This site is ideally located with easy access to the Atlantic Seaboard and the CBD.
The proposed development is designed to not only increase affordable housing in the area but also retain community amenities such as the library service point and the Civic Hall.
Stakeholders with an interest in or affected by the proposed Green Point mixed-use development are invited to participate in the upcoming public engagement sessions.
These sessions will provide insight into the vision for this strategically located site.
Your input is invaluable throughout this process which commenced on Thursday, 17 April, until Saturday, 31 May 2025.
Members of the public are encouraged to submit their comments during this pre-statutory phase, which will play a key role in shaping the concept development plan for this prime property……
But, Madam Speaker, we are not stopping there.
Urban Mobility – another key area for the city – is focused on critical road maintenance, public transport improvements, and congestion relief – across our city.
Major road projects, such as the rehabilitation of Jakes Gerwel Drive, the construction of MyCiTi bus services on AZ Berman Drive, and the resurfacing of Morgenster Road, are already underway.
I understand the frustrations of our residents, especially in areas like Mitchells Plain, where congestion is a daily challenge.
However, many political parties – let’s hope some of them are not in this chamber – have peddled the misinformation that we are only doing these upgrades to score political points in the upcoming election.
You accuse us of not investing in certain communities.
When we invest, you accuse us of only doing it to score political points. So…which is it?.....
Madam Speaker, these infrastructure projects require significant groundwork, and while the progress may not always be visible in the short term, the long-term benefits will be transformative.
But, Madam Speaker, we are not stopping there.
Water and Sanitation. R1,77 Billion is estimated to be spent on extensions and upgrades at Waste Water Treatment Plants over the next financial year.
A further R1,07 Billion for various projects is proposed to help bolster proactive efforts to assist with preventing sewer overflows, including upgrades to our sewer pump stations, replacement of sewer pipes and upgrading bulk sewers in the Cape Flats, Phillipi, Milnerton and Gordons Bay. …..
But Madam Speaker, we are not stopping there
Youth unemployment remains a pressing challenge, with a significant portion of young people facing barriers to entering the workforce.
A key issue is the mismatch between the skills they possess and those demanded by the market.
To tackle this, we launched the #YouthStart SMME stimulus initiative, aimed at nurturing young entrepreneurs with essential skills and financial backing.
We are prioritising programmes like these because we recognise that SMME’s are the engines that grow our local economy and offer much needed job opportunities.
Imagine the ripple effect, Madam Speaker.
Young people empowered to start their own businesses with the relevant skills, creating jobs for other young people in their communities.
This is how we build the City of Hope today.
Investment in roads.
1. Investment in Housing.
2. Investment in the future of children.
3. Across all areas of the City,
4. For all residents.
In short, we are building a City of Tomorrow. Today. …..
And Madam Speaker, in a national context where dysfunction has become normalised – where major metros are gripped by coalition chaos, revolving-door leadership, and administrative collapse - Cape Town stands apart.
We have one Mayor, one team, and one focus: delivering for the people of this city.
While other metros are issuing apologies for outages, budget shortfalls, and service backlogs, Cape Town continues to deliver 15 kilolitres of free water every single month to qualifying households.
We provide lifeline electricity to residents in homes valued under R500,000 and earning under R7,500 per month.
And households with a property value under R450,000 and incomes below R7,500 benefit from a 100% rates rebate.
These are not gestures.
These are hard, tangible outcomes, made possible only through effective planning, sound financial management, and a stable political leadership.
We are not distracted by internal power plays or paralysed by indecision.
We are focused on what matters: making life better for Capetonians.
We know that dignity is not manufactured through grandstanding, but built through access - to water, electricity, housing, and opportunity.
Cape Town succeeds because we have not allowed politics to become a barrier to governance.
We have shown that it is possible to run a clean, accountable, and service-focused government - even within a national climate that often rewards the opposite.
We have done this -
1. by staying the course.
1. By investing in the basics.
2. And by refusing to be dragged into the chaos that defines too many other metros.
Yes, Cape Town stands apart—not because we claim it, but because the results speak for themselves.
1. While others point fingers, we point the way forward.
2. While others collapse under the weight of playing politics, we lift up our residents with real support.
3. While others trade in blame, we trade in delivery for all Capetonians.
This is how we make progress possible together —united in building and investing in the City of tomorrow, today!
Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
