The blatant lies being told by the Good Party in response to the passing of amendments to City by-laws yesterday must mark a new low for the party that has repeatedly shown itself to have no shame.

Just yesterday, I called on all parties to please campaign safely and respectfully of one another, and with the greater good in mind.

In response, Brett Herron and the Good Party issued the obscenely false claim that,  “Cape Town pushes through by-law criminalising homelessness and Call to Prayer.”

The city has never criminalised and will never criminalise the call to prayer, nor homeless persons.

The current by-law amendments and public participation was limited to, inter alia, addressing the constitutional enforcement of the prohibition on sleeping in public spaces, and to ensure that an offer of shelter and social assistance must first be made to homeless persons. These amendments are not relevant to the call to prayer whatsoever.

The City has never silenced a single mosque in Cape Town, nor does the Streets by-law allow for this.

In time to come, further sections of the By-law will undergo review, and there will be ample opportunity for public inputs on how these can best serve all residents in Cape Town and the diverse needs of communities.

I called Moulana Shaykh Allie, First-Deputy President of the Muslim Judicial Council (MJC), to set the record straight following the lies being spread by the GOOD party that the city of Cape Town is criminalising the call to prayer.

I made it clear that the GOOD party are playing cheap politics and abusing religion for political purposes as there is zero truth to this shameful claim. The Shaykh appreciated that I was able to dispel the malicious and false claims being made by the GOOD party.

Mr Herron should apologise for spreading fake news, and for stooping so low as to involve religion under false pretences for hollow personal gain.

Source: City Of Cape Town