Cape Town - GOOD Party secretary-general and Western Cape MPL Brett Herron has announced an unprecedented arrangement, which will see RISE Mzansi Western Cape convenor Axolile Notywala taking up a position as a GOOD councillor in the City of Cape Town.
The GOOD Party’s leadership approached Notywala with the proposition.
Notywala said he believed this was due to work done in civil society, particularly over the past 15 years, championing issues similar to those the GOOD Party had focused on, namely human settlements, land and housing, and spatial justice.
“Similar issues that also RISE Mzansi had focused on, so the similarities in terms of the ideology of these parties as well, being social democratic parties with the values of freedom, justice, equality and solidarity, were some of the considerations,” he said.
Notywala’s previous positions include serving as national co-ordinator of the Right2Know Campaign and general secretary of the Social Justice Coalition.
He also campaigned for the position of premier of the Western Cape, the youngest person vying for the position at the age of 35.
Notywala said the appointment provided an opportunity for him and RISE Mzansi to have a voice in the Cape Town council.
“I will be a GOOD councillor, I will be part of the GOOD caucus and will represent both parties in terms of those issues.”
The GOOD Party has nine seats in the City council, the fourth largest political party represented.
I“We are pleased to welcome Notywala as a councillor who brings with him demonstrated experience as an activist and community organiser, but more importantly, a heart committed to our shared priorities around social, spatial, environmental, and economic justice,” said Herron.
The arrangement gives Notywala dual membership, allowing him to retain his position as a RISE Mzansi member while representing the GOOD Party in the council.
“We are confident that this is only the beginning of a much broader and richer project that will add immense value to the development of social democracy in South Africa,” Herron said.
Cape Argus