CAPE TOWN, Western Cape — As the race for the upcoming Local Government Elections intensifies, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Gugulethu campaign has made service delivery and deep-seated municipal inequalities a central focus. Leading the party’s outreach in the Cape Flats community, National Chairperson and Mayoral candidate Nontando Nolutshungu engaged directly with frustrated residents of the Fawu Hostel, pledging to tackle a massive municipal debt and restore basic amenities to the area.
Nolutshungu highlighted the stark socio-economic divides within the metro, describing a “two-city” reality where affluent areas like Camps Bay receive preferential treatment compared to impoverished townships. “Our main aim is to make sure that we live in a city where all residents are treated equally,” she stated. Addressing the immediate sanitation crisis, she noted that refuse removal in densely populated township areas must occur far more frequently than the standard weekly schedule, suggesting collections up to three times a week to accommodate residents living in close quarters.
The focal point of the EFF Gugulethu campaign is the Fawu Hostel, a privately owned property that formerly housed the Food and Allied Workers Union (FAWU). Residents are enduring severe hardships, reporting blocked sewers, uncollected waste, and a seven-month electricity blackout that has forced them to rely on gas and paraffin for daily survival.
A FAWU spokesperson clarified the origins of the crippling financial dispute, noting that the hostel’s water and electricity consumption skyrocketed between 2022 and 2026, resulting in an arrears bill of approximately R3 million owed to the City of Cape Town. The union explained that residents had defaulted on their utility payments and the union was unable to cover the costs on their behalf. Furthermore, the FAWU representative pointed out that the union has not actively operated out of the hostel’s office block since 2022, opting for rented spaces elsewhere while only maintaining security personnel on the premises. The municipality subsequently took legal action over the unpaid bill before ultimately switching off the power.
Despite the private ownership status of the property and the outstanding debt, the EFF has signaled its willingness to intervene and assist in clearing the arrears. Nolutshungu urged residents of Ward 40 to throw their support behind the party, emphasizing that a majority victory in the sub-council would grant the EFF the power to enforce municipal-level decisions and guarantee service delivery for the area.
Addressing the utility cutoff, Siseko Mbandezi, the City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Finance, defended the municipality’s actions. Mbandezi explained that the city is strictly following its credit control and debt collection policies to recover outstanding municipal debts. He emphasized that the restriction of services is utilized only as a last resort and confirmed that the city is currently engaging with relevant stakeholders to resolve the impasse.
For the locals trapped in the deteriorating conditions, the political promises offer a glimmer of hope. Expressing strong faith in the opposition party, one resident summarized the community’s sentiment: “We have approached the EFF because we trust them. We know they will make a big difference in our situation and we will vote for them.”
