Article re-cap
- The GOOD Party will lodge a formal objection with the City Manager and a complaint with the Public Protector over the Good Hope Centre sale process.
- Brett Herron questioned why Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis commented publicly on the bid outcome before the process was finalised, raising this as a distinct procedural concern.
- The City confirmed no final decision has been made and that a full report will be tabled before the City Council.
- New World Faith Ministries says it has not been officially informed that its bid was no longer under consideration.
- The GOOD Party maintains that the site should be used for affordable housing rather than sold.
The GOOD Party intends to lodge formal complaints regarding the City of Cape Town's procurement process for the Good Hope Centre site.
GOOD Secretary-General and mayoral candidate Brett Herron announced that the party will file an objection with the City Manager and a complaint with the Public Protector. The move follows claims by Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis regarding the auction of the Good Hope Centre in February. Herron said: 'Not because we have prejudged the outcome, but because a DA-run city that sells public assets needs to follow its own rules, and this one did not.'
According to Herron, the Mayor's recent radio interview statements contradicted the status of the highest bidder. The Mayor stated that the highest bidder could not meet requirements, allowing the second highest bidder, an Islamic institution, to proceed. Herron also questioned why the Mayor commented publicly on the outcome of the bid process before it had been concluded, framing this timing as a procedural concern distinct from the broader procurement objection.
A letter from Pastor John Anosike of St John’s Holdings PTY Ltd addressed to the City disputes this claim. The letter states that the organisation has not failed to meet requirements and requested clarity on whether the Mayor's remarks represented the official position of the City.
The letter noted that neither the holding company nor New World Faith Ministries had received official communication from the City and were awaiting feedback to finalise the purchase. Herron argued that under the City's Supply Chain Management Policy, decisions are made by a Bid Adjudication Committee and the City Manager rather than the Mayor.
The City said no final decision has been made and that a full report on the proposed sale will be tabled before the City Council.
The GOOD Party expressed opposition to the sale of the Good Hope Centre site regardless of the buyer. Herron stated that public land should be developed for the public good, citing a critical housing shortage and recent Constitutional Court rulings regarding the sale of public properties.
This follows earlier local coverage of Cape Town reviews R135 million Good Hope Centre property deal.
Frequently asked questions
What formal steps is the GOOD Party taking over the Good Hope Centre sale?
The GOOD Party intends to lodge a formal objection with the City Manager and a complaint with the Public Protector regarding the procurement process.
Has the City of Cape Town made a final decision on the sale of the Good Hope Centre?
No. The City confirmed that no final decision has been made and that a full report on the proposed sale will be tabled before the City Council.
What is Brett Herron's specific procedural complaint about the Mayor?
Herron questioned why Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis made public comments about the outcome of the bid process before it had been concluded, treating this as a procedural concern separate from the broader procurement objection.
Why does the GOOD Party oppose the sale regardless of the buyer?
The GOOD Party argues that public land should be developed for the public good, citing a critical housing shortage and recent Constitutional Court rulings on the sale of public properties.
Source: forgood.org.za, ewn.co.za
