| City facility a world first in alternative human waste management | Statement by the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Waste, Councillor Xanthea Limberg | <p>Yesterday, 19 June 2019, the City of Cape Town officially opened a new, state-of-the-art Faecal Sludge Management Facility (FSMF) located at the Borcherds Quarry Wastewater Treatment Plant.</p><p>The first of its kind in the world, this City-initiated innovation is a unique and fully automated system for cleaning, washing and disinfecting toilet containers; five times faster than the previous manual method. Additionally, it provides an improved working environment for staff while upskilling them for the operation of the equipment. Staff will be upskilled and trained by the contractor.</p><p>The City identified the need to build a new facility that would more efficiently and safely dispose of human waste, and clean the containers in a seamless operation. The City, in conjunction with its service providers and contractors, designed and built the specialised facility that has been in operation since earlier this year. </p><p>One of the most significant benefits of this facility is its water-wise design. Recycled water, produced at the wastewater treatment plant, is used instead of potable (drinking quality) water that was used by the old ‘manual’ system. This is an important factor for a water-challenged city. Other significant benefits are a reduced quantity of chemicals being used in the disinfecting process that results in cost efficiencies; reduction in odours that may negatively impact on surrounding areas; and the minimization of chemical and faecal spillages.</p><p>‘Efficient service delivery is what Cape Town is known for. While we understand the challenge of meeting the desired levels of service delivery, we always do our utmost to serve all residents. The City continues to do its utmost to enhance service delivery out of respect for its residents and ratepayers. While this is a positive achievement, we want to work harder to make sure every single resident experiences this reality. This is a challenge we must strive to meet, particularly in our informal settlements,’ said the City’s Executive Mayor, Alderman Dan Plato.</p><p>For the more than 160 000 informal households, the City provides and services just over 20 000 portable flush toilets, 7 800 containerised toilets, 7 600 chemical toilets and other types of sanitation that includes conservancy tanks and pour-flush toilets, among others.</p><p>The design of this facility offers a safe working environment for the 60 employees, with the potential for more jobs in the future.</p><p>Additionally, it is an innovative and efficient facility, offering improved sanitation to informal settlement residents. It has the ability to ramp up capacity for expected future demand.</p><p>Overall, the FSMF is a vast improvement to sanitation services to our informal settlement residents.</p><p><strong>End</strong></p> | 2019-06-19T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
| City facility a world first in alternative human waste management | The first of its kind in the world, this City-initiated innovation is a unique and fully automated system for cleaning, washing and disinfecting toilet containers | <span><p>Yesterday, 19 June 2019, the City of Cape Town officially opened a new, state-of-the-art Faecal Sludge Management Facility (FSMF) located at the Borcherds Quarry Wastewater Treatment Plant.</p><p>The first of its kind in the world, this City-initiated innovation is a unique and fully automated system for cleaning, washing and disinfecting toilet containers; five times faster than the previous manual method. Additionally, it provides an improved working environment for staff while upskilling them for the operation of the equipment. Staff will be upskilled and trained by the contractor.</p><p>The City identified the need to build a new facility that would more efficiently and safely dispose of human waste, and clean the containers in a seamless operation. The City, in conjunction with its service providers and contractors, designed and built the specialised facility that has been in operation since earlier this year. </p>
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<img class="responsive" src="http://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Centre/sludge%20water1.jpg" alt="" style="width:877px;" /> </figure></span><span><p></p><p>One of the most significant benefits of this facility is its water-wise design. Recycled water, produced at the wastewater treatment plant, is used instead of potable (drinking quality) water that was used by the old ‘manual’ system. This is an important factor for a water-challenged city. Other significant benefits are a reduced quantity of chemicals being used in the disinfecting process that results in cost efficiencies; reduction in odours that may negatively impact on surrounding areas; and the minimization of chemical and faecal spillages.</p><p>‘Efficient service delivery is what Cape Town is known for. While we understand the challenge of meeting the desired levels of service delivery, we always do our utmost to serve all residents. The City continues to do its utmost to enhance service delivery out of respect for its residents and ratepayers. While this is a positive achievement, we want to work harder to make sure every single resident experiences this reality. This is a challenge we must strive to meet, particularly in our informal settlements,’ said the City’s Executive Mayor, Alderman Dan Plato.</p><p>For the more than 160 000 informal households, the City provides and services just over 20 000 portable flush toilets, 7 800 containerised toilets, 7 600 chemical toilets and other types of sanitation that includes conservancy tanks and pour-flush toilets, among others.</p>
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<img class="responsive" src="http://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Centre/sludge%20water2.jpg" alt="" style="width:912px;" /> </figure></span><span></span><p><br>The design of this facility offers a safe working environment for the 60 employees, with the potential for more jobs in the future. </p><p>Additionally, it is an innovative and efficient facility, offering improved sanitation to informal settlement residents. It has the ability to ramp up capacity for expected future demand.</p><p>Overall, the FSMF is a vast improvement to sanitation services to our informal settlement residents.</p><p><strong>End</strong><br></p> | 2019-06-19T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
| Women in Film take centre stage at networking event | The City of Cape Town and the Cape Town International Film Market and Festival are co-hosting a three-day networking event at the Civic Centre, providing a platform for Women in Film. | <p> </p><span><p>The City of Cape Town and the Cape Town International Film Market and Festival are co-hosting a three-day networking event at the Civic Centre, providing a platform for Women in Film. </p><p>The event, which runs until Friday 21 June 2019, includes film screenings (Ellen Pakkies, Deep End and Sodium Day), opportunities to interact with producers and cast members, as well as a chance to network with other industry stakeholders.</p><p>A number of discussions are part of the agenda, including the realities of show business and diversity in film, but also what the future holds for women in film and television in South Africa.</p><p>Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith was one of the speakers at the event. Below is an extract from his speech:<br></p>
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<img class="responsive" src="http://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Centre/women%20in%20film1.jpg" alt="" style="width:1077px;" /> </figure></span><span><p>There is a lot I can say about the film industry; it is an industry that provides entertainment to millions as we will see in today’s screening of Deep End, you present opportunities for education through film like in yesterday’s screening of Ellen Pakkies and beyond this, the film industry is a key contributor to job creation in our City which benefits both our local and national economy. </p><p>A study commissioned by the City of Cape Town shows that the film industry contributes approximately R5 billion to the local economy annually and has created more than 35 000 jobs over a three-year period. This is in line with the City’s efforts to reduce unemployment.</p><p>The film industry is important, not only because the arts are critical to our society, but also because it creates jobs in front of the camera, behind the camera and even further behind the scenes; from the caterers on set to transport providers and costume designers. </p>
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<img class="responsive" src="http://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Centre/women%20in%20film2.jpg" alt="" style="width:877px;" /> </figure></span><span></span><p>The City supports the industry as best we can, and we also recognise the pivotal role that women play in its success, hence this event. I tip my hat to the innovators and leaders who set the bar and are paving the way for others eager to make their break in film. I think it is important to recognise their impact on job creation, innovation and economic growth and I thank them.</p><p><br><strong>End</strong></p> | 2019-06-19T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
| City’s seventh Matrix site opens its doors | The City of Cape Town’s Health Department has opened its latest substance abuse treatment site. | <p></p><span><p>The City of Cape Town’s Health Department has opened its latest substance abuse treatment site.</p><p>Based at the Eerste River Clinic, the site is the seventh of its kind to offer free drug and alcohol treatment to residents in need.</p><p>Six other sites have been in operation for a number of years – the first being the Tafelsig substance abuse treatment site launched in 2008, followed by Town Two in Khayelitsha, Delft South, Milnerton, Parkwood and Manenberg.</p><p>Two qualified social workers and a clerk will be available to help clients through a 16-week programme, based on the evidence-based Matrix® model.<br></p>
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<img class="responsive" src="http://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Centre/matrix%20launch2.jpg" alt="" style="width:692px;" /> </figure></span><span><p>‘This treatment site is the first in what we refer to as Area East, within the City. There is a need for community-based alcohol and drug treatment services in this ever-expanding and developing area. Our clinic staff have also detected a trend where some of our clients are also dealing with alcohol or drug abuse. These are some of the reasons why we decided on this area as the location for the latest Matrix® site,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Zahid Badroodien.</p><p>The substance abuse programme is available to walk-in clients who are able to enter the programme immediately after a professional assessment and drug and alcohol screening.<br>Based on the Matrix® model, treatment consists of three to four sessions a week, which involve:</p><ul><li><div style="text-align:left;">counselling sessions with or without family members;</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">an early recovery group which focuses on skills that will help you stay clean and sober;</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">a relapse prevention group which focuses on living without alcohol and drugs;</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">a family education group which teaches you and your family about the process of recovery; and</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">a social support group involving regular meetings with others struggling with substance abuse.</div></li></ul>
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<img class="responsive" src="http://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Centre/Theda%20De%20Villiers_Cllr%20Zahid%20Badroodien_Leonore%20Fortuin-Johnson_Soraya%20Elloker.jpg" alt="" style="width:826px;" /> </figure></span><p>Clinics are open between 08:00 and 16:30 on weekdays.<br><br>‘I want to encourage residents in the Eerste River area who need help with addiction to reach out to our staff, who are on hand to walk the road to recovery with them. It is not an easy journey, but one that can change their lives for the better if they persevere. <br><br>‘City substance abuse treatment sites currently have an 83% clean drug test rate amongst clients in the programme. We commend them, but so too the ones who relapse and return to the programme, because they had the courage to get up and try again. In the coming days, City Health will celebrate the various milestones of clients who have been in the programme for some time. I hope that a year from now, we will be celebrating the milestones of clients who will have taken advantage of the service now available to them at our newest substance abuse treatment site,’ added Councillor Badroodien.</p><p><strong>End</strong><br></p> | 2019-06-19T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
