Thomas Johnson - The Blog

Cape Town residents like these in Rylands (ward 48) complain about the poor state of neighbourhood parks: city neglect, unmaintained, rubbish strewn, vagrancy, drug taking and prostitution. (The ward councillor is two-term Magedien Davids [1]. Christa Liebenberg is sub-council manager.) The city doesn’t maintain parks – the build and forget approach – or enforce infringements. It's left to residents to deal with the consequences of deteriorating amenities – the “broken window” problem. In the meantime, often in the same wards, the city is upgrading isolated parks. What they mean by that is not always clear but usually it’s adding or refurbishing play equipment and pathways. During a  site visit to Colorado Park  in Mitchell’s Plain mayco for community services Zahid Badroodien said the city “hears the community’s concerns”. He spoke of the importance of communication with affected communities and role of ward committees in the upgrades However, these are hollow wo...

City implicated in forged petition signature. This is an update on the controversial park development that will, if completed, cost at least R3 million. Cape Town City is forcing through “upgrades” despite not having followed a public participation process and appears to be enthralled by a previously unknown residents' group. However, for months the city and ward councillor had discussions and joined forces with this unrepresentative group that was only “officially” formed on September 18 at a by-invitation only inaugural AGM on Google Meets. They are affiliated with former controversial city politician Suzettte Little  (she was investigated for misconduct) who they say is an “advisor” but in reality has taken an active role in developments.  Neither of the group’s members lives nearby. It’s a mystery why they're taking an interest in and concerned with what’s happening here when parks in their own area have problems of alleged drug taking, prostitution and vagrancy which...

 Auditor-general Kimi Makwetu is undertaking annual audits of national, provincial and local government departments. By the end of November government, political parties, analysts and media will scrutinise and pontificate on his findings. Depending on his opinions, they shall either accuse other parties of bad governance or congratulate themselves for a job well done.   The DA particularly shall boast about the “clean audits” they receive for the Western Cape government, Cape Town City and other municipalities. But they, like the public, conflate and confuse unqualified financial audits with good governance in its correct, broad meaning, i.e. financially, legally and ethically well-run.   However, no South African state department meets all three requirements of good governance.   It’s a common misconception especially among the DA and their supporters to confuse clean audits with good governance, their boast when their administrations receive unqualified aud...

A little known residents group is influencing the fast track development of a Cape Town neighbourhood recreational park that when complete will, I estimate, cost at minimum R3 million. The confirmed proposal for the 2020/21 financial year includes perimeter pathway, toddler track, exercise equipment and multipurpose courts. A service road was discussed as an option. (See here and here .) What makes this project unusual is the park is next door to an unused city-owned multi-purpose sports complex and 600m away from another park that has the same facilities. The CSIR’s Guidelines for Provision of Social Facilities recommends neighbourhood parks be within a minimum 20 minute walk from each other. The group calling itself a “residents’ association” was only formed on September 12 via a virtual annual general meeting with invited participants. It had previously been a neighbourhood block working committee. Emails I obtained show they had been in discussions with the city including the Pa...