The mayor of Cape Town, Geordin Hill-Lewis, disclosed during a live radio interview that the Good Hope Centre, an iconic property in the city, will not be purchased by the Nigerian church that initially won the bid.

The church, Spirit Revelation Ecclesia, had announced its acquisition following a municipal auction but was unable to secure the R135 million required.Hill-Lewis revealed that the second-highest bidder, a mosque, will now acquire the property for R130 million.

The mayor emphasized that the mosque will include affordable housing on-site, addressing critics who argued the site should serve as affordable housing.The City of Cape Town stated it is reviewing the sale due to discrepancies in the bids, with a formal report pending before council.Activists and political groups have protested the sale, citing concerns over housing shortages.The Western Cape High Court dismissed urgent applications to block the auction of municipal properties, including the Good Hope Centre.The Good Hope Centre was one of 53 City-owned properties sold earlier this year as part of asset disposal efforts.The proposed sale has sparked legal considerations, with the GOOD Party threatening to challenge the decision if it proceeds under current bid terms.