Concerns grow over reported sale of Good Hope Centre to church group

Reports suggesting the potential sale of the Good Hope Centre to a church group have sparked confusion and concerns.

The centre and about 50 other properties went under the hammer last week at a municipal property auction.

The City of Cape Town said all bids were received, but none were accepted yet as it enters a mandatory legislative review phase. 

RELATED: Cape Town to auction iconic Good Hope centre and 50 other properties

GOOD Party Secretary General Brett Herron expressed concern over reports that a church group could take ownership of the Good Hope Centre. 

He explained that the sale could deprive the people of Cape Town of a vital civic space, used for events and conferences that bring the community together.

“The City of Cape Town’s economic growth plan places meetings, incentives, conferencing and events at the centre of our tourism strategy, and the Good Hope Centre is a really good second-tier convention centre.” 

With a capacity of 7,000 people, the Good Hope Centre has been a crucial venue for many events, including the Cape Town International Jazz Festival.

Herron argued that selling the centre to a church group would limit its use to religious events, which would be a step backwards for the community.

“To sell off the Good Hope Centre and to have a condition that only 1,200 square meters of it be retained for community use is really a concern. There were other options available to the City.” 

RELATED: Hill-Lewis comments after court clears controversial Good Hope Centre sale

To listen to Herron in conversation with CapeTalk’s Lester Kiewit, use the audio player below: