| Cape Town dam levels see nominal decrease to 99,2% | Dam levels continue to border the 100% mark as they have dropped by less than 1% this past week | <p>‘Dam levels continue to border the 100% mark as they have dropped by less than 1% this past week.</p><p>‘As communicated after the Mayoral Committee meeting last week, following ongoing assessments and consultations, the City decided to lift water restrictions in Cape Town and to move to the lowest tariff, being the no restriction, water-wise tariff from 1 November 2020.</p><p>Residents are reminded that while water restrictions will be lifted from 1 November 2020, the following permanent regulations as outlined in the Water By-law still apply:</p><ul><li><div style="text-align:left;">Watering is only allowed before 9:00 or after 18:00. This applies to watering with drinking water or borehole or well point water. </div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Hosepipes used for watering or washing vehicles, boats and caravans must be fitted with a controlling device such as a sprayer or automatic self-closing device. </div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Automated sprinkler systems must be able to be correctly positioned and be able to be adjusted to prevent water wastage.</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Boreholes and well point water must be used sparingly and efficiently. </div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Commercial car wash industries must comply with industry best practice norms regarding water usage per car washed. </div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">• All swimming pools must be covered by a pool cover to avoid evaporation when not in use. </div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Automatic top up systems using a float valve fed from a potable water source to supply swimming pools and garden ponds is not allowed. </div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">No washing or hosing down of hard-surfaced or paved areas with municipal drinking water allowed.</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Water users, such as abattoirs, food processing industries, care facilities, animal shelters and other industries or facilities with special needs (health/safety related only) must apply for exemption.</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Potable water may not be used to dampen building sand and other building material to prevent it from being blown away. </div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Taps and showers provided in public facilities must be fitted with demand type taps. </div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Outdoor taps, except those on residential properties, must be secured to prevent unauthorised use. </div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">The maximum flow rate of any showerhead may not exceed seven litres per minute. </div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">The maximum flow rate of any tap installed at a washbasin may not exceed six litres per minute. </div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">New or replaced toilet cisterns may not exceed six litres in capacity. </div></li></ul><p>For more information on new water sources, water restrictions (Level 1 currently in place), guidelines around alternative water sources such as boreholes and rainwater tanks, as well as tariff information, please visit <a href="http://www.capetown.gov.za/thinkwater" target="_blank">http://www.capetown.gov.za/thinkwater</a> </p><p>More information about the City’s Water Strategy can be found here: <a href="http://www.capetown.gov.za/general/cape-town-water-strategy" target="_blank">http://www.capetown.gov.za/general/cape-town-water-strategy</a> </p><p><br><strong>End</strong></p> | 2020-10-26T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
| Scores of arrests all in a week’s work | Nearly 70% of the overall arrest tally were on charges of drunk driving and reckless and negligent driving | <p><strong>TRAFFIC SERVICES</strong></p><p>Cape Town Traffic made 100 arrests – 35 of the suspects were collared during illegal street racing operations in Bellville, Athlone, Ottery, Milnerton and the Atlantic Seaboard.</p><p>Nearly 70% of the overall arrest tally were on charges of drunk driving and reckless and negligent driving.</p><p>The remainder included arrests for attempted murder, assault, furnishing false information and trying to escape from custody.</p><p>Officers also impounded 166 vehicles, 202 cellphones and issued 66 092 fines. </p><p><br><strong>LAW ENFORCEMENT</strong></p><p>The department arrested 35 suspects, 31 of those by officers deployed in terms of the Law Enforcement Advancement Programme.</p><p>Officers issued 4 201 fines and confiscated 520 units of alcohol. </p><p>On Thursday morning, LEAP officers on patrol in Hanover Park were approached by two members of the public who informed them of an incident at a house in Silica Walk.</p><p>Officers responded and requested access to the premises, where they found three men who had been badly assaulted. </p><p>They requested an ambulance, and then proceeded to search the premises. </p><p><strong>Officers recovered:</strong></p><ul><li><div style="text-align:left;">109 mandrax tablets </div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">four packets of tik </div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">256 bankies of dagga </div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">two vacuum compressed bags of dagga </div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">an onion bag full of dagga </div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">four packets of unga</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">four bags of tik lollies</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">R11 138 in cash</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Seven empty magazines </div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">27 live rounds </div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">62 9mm casings </div></li></ul><p>Six suspects were arrested and detained at Philippi SAPS.</p><p>‘This is one of several successes achieved by our LEAP officers who have been deployed in Hanover Park for the past ten days, and is indicative of what is possible when you have boots on the ground on a sustained basis. Our policing resources are stretched at the best of times, so to have this dedicated deployment in a flashpoint area is extremely important. I also want to commend the members of the public who are taking it upon themselves to get involved in the fight against crime by passing along information which has good outcomes, like this particular incident,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.</p><p><strong>METRO POLICE</strong></p><p>The Metro Police department made 44 arrests on a range of charges including possession of drugs, domestic violence, public violence and outstanding warrants of arrests.</p><p>They also issued 2 854 fines and confiscated alcohol, ammunition and drugs.</p><p>Three of those arrested were charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, and were apprehended based on the observations of officers.</p><ul><li><div style="text-align:left;">On Sunday, 25 October 2020, Metro Police officers heading to work came across an overturned bakkie in Mitchells Plain. On investigation, they discovered that the driver was under the influence of liquor. The 30-year-old suspect was arrested and detained at Lentegeur SAPS.</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">On Saturday, 24 October 2020, officers stopped a vehicle for swerving on the roadway on the N2 between the R44 and Kramat Road. The 39-year-old driver was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and detained at Macassar SAPS.</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">On Friday, officers patrolling along Govan Mbeki Road noticed a silver Toyota Conquest driving recklessly and changing lanes without indicating. They managed to pull over the vehicle on the corner of Jan Smuts and Govan Mbeki Road. Upon interviewing the driver, the officers noticed that his eyes were bloodshot and that he reeked of alcohol. The 52-year-old driver was arrested for driving under the influence and detained at Lansdowne SAPS. </div></li></ul><p>‘Just this morning, we witnessed a devastating motor vehicle accident with multiple fatalities. The City extends its heartfelt condolences to the loved ones of those who died. While the circumstances that led to the crash are still under investigation, it once again puts the spotlight on road safety. Operating a vehicle is a mammoth responsibility, and it requires that you have your wits about you at all times. Driving drunk like the suspects arrested by our Metro Police officers does not help. I also urge motorists to please check their vehicles regularly, not just the mechanical aspects, but also the tyre pressure and general condition of the vehicle. We are just weeks away from the festive season and likely increased traffic volumes, so I appeal to road users to do right by themselves and others,’ added Alderman Smith.</p><p><strong> </strong><br><strong>End</strong><br></p> | 2020-10-25T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
| More than 53 000 payment arrangements, rebates for struggling customers | The City of Cape Town has sought to assist its residents and customers throughout the COVID-19 lockdown period while ensuring the municipality remains healthy to deliver basic and essential services | <p>All income from rates and services is used to fund the delivery of services. It is also the primary source of income used for service delivery, in accordance with the South African local government model. </p><p>Good revenue collections are required to ensure the municipality remains healthy enough to deliver services. To improve revenue collections, the City is enforcing payments of outstanding debts through effective debt management actions. This applies to those residents/businesses who have not come forward to access the benefits offered by the City to make arrangements to pay off their accounts. </p><p>‘We were recently named the most sustainable metro in the country, largely as a result of our good revenue collection efforts. This is indicative of a well-run organisation. We were also named the most trusted metro in South Africa because of our high levels of service delivery. </p><p>‘Our debt management efforts are focused on those customers who are able to pay, but refuse to do so. We offer assistance to those in need. It is therefore important for all property owners, the City’s public housing rentals and loans tenants/debtors and tenants of City leased properties, to pay their accounts in full on or before the due date or make arrangements to pay off their arrear debts over an agreed period of time, based on their ability to pay, to avoid any debt recovery actions being instituted against them. </p><p>‘The City made available more than R3,3 billion for rates and service relief. It has also continued to communicate on all channels about the relief options that are available for those who have been severely impacted by the COVID-19 crisis and lockdown regulations. The City has cut expenditure in many areas that are not urgent, so as to ensure continued service delivery without undue rates and tariff increases. According to our knowledge, the City implemented some of the lowest average rates and services increases of any metro in South Africa. Increases were kept as low as possible, only being adjusted to cover the increase in costs of providing the services. Furthermore, if one looks at comparable metros, such as Joburg, with their rates relief package, based on the City’s information, residential ratepayers in Cape Town pay less per year for the same valuation than in the Joburg metro area. </p><p>‘Internal funding sources from previous years have been fully employed in the 2020/21 budget to help reduce the impact of the pandemic on residents and ratepayers. The City continues to keep a very close eye on this as the primary source of income for the delivery of basic services is from rates and service income. </p><p>‘We’ve maintained since the start of the COVID-19 crisis that we’ll do everything in our power to ensure there is relief offered, while making sure the municipality can continue to perform its main functions of basic service delivery. This balanced approach has clearly had a positive impact. Although total debt has increased as expected, the risk is far lower than it would have been were it not for the City’s financial interventions and management,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Finance and Executive Deputy Mayor, Alderman Ian Neilson. </p><p><strong>Assistance</strong> </p><ul><li><div style="text-align:left;">We have made R3,3 billion available for rates and services assistance in the new financial year.</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">We have also made relief available for those severely impacted financially by COVID-19.</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Interest-free payment arrangements are available for those who qualify.</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Please visit <a href="http://www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Apply/Financial-relief-and-rebates/Organisations/apply-for-covid-19-business-support-for-your-guest-house-or-bed-and-breakfast" target="_blank">http://www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Apply/Financial-relief-and-rebates/Organisations/apply-for-covid-19-business-support-for-your-guest-house-or-bed-and-breakfast</a> for relief</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Visit <a href="http://www.capetown.gov.za/coronavirus" target="_blank">www.capetown.gov.za/coronavirus</a> for more information.</div></li></ul><p><strong>For account payments:</strong></p><ul><li><div style="text-align:left;">Online: <a href="http://www.easypay.co.za/" target="_blank">www.Easypay.co.za</a> or <a href="http://www.paycity.co.za/" target="_blank">www.payCity.co.za</a></div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">EFTs: Select the City as a bank-listed beneficiary. Use only your nine-digit municipal account number as reference</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Retailers: Checkers, Pick n Pay, Shoprite, Spar and Woolworths</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">e-Services: Use the City’s online e-services portal </div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">ATM: contact your bank to add the City as an ATM beneficiary </div></li></ul><p><br><strong>End</strong></p> | 2020-10-25T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
| More than 100 million litres of water provided to informal settlements during lockdown | Since the start of the national lockdown, the City of Cape Town has been providing a temporary emergency water delivery service to help communities in informal settlements | <span><p>Even as lockdown restrictions have progressively been eased, the City’s Informal Settlements Basic Services team has been working intensively to help vulnerable communities.</p><p>As part of the City’s emergency response to the COVID-19 pandemic, informal settlements, which were identified as most in need of additional access to water for basic hygiene, have been receiving deliveries of clean drinking water via a fleet of water trucks and ‘JoJo-style’ water tanks. This is the first time such an operation of this scale has been undertaken.</p>
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<img class="responsive" src="http://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Centre/water%20delivery%20truck1.jpg" alt="" /> </figure></span><span><p>A total of 307 ‘Jojo style’ water tanks have been installed in densely populated informal areas situated on City-owned land in two phases. During Phase 1, the City installed 93 water tanks in various locations. For Phase 2, the City, in a joint initiative with the National Department of Water and Sanitation, installed 214 water tanks throughout the Monwabisi Park area in Khayelitsha. The tanks range in capacity from 2500 to 2700 litres. Efforts are under way to connect the water tanks to the reticulation network as a future source of water. </p><p>‘Lockdown has been a very challenging time for everyone, particularly our vulnerable communities. Our teams have had to strategise carefully around how we can best provide emergency access to water in higher-risk areas to help residents reduce the spread of COVID-19. In many communities, especially those which are established due to land invasions, provision of water has been limited by factors such as land ownership, density or high water tables. </p>
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<img class="responsive" src="http://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Centre/water%20delivery%20truck%203.jpg" alt="" /> </figure></span><span><p><br>‘Without the water delivery service to these communities, residents would have had to walk much longer distances to get water, and maintaining social distance at the standpipes would have been difficult. </p><p>‘Despite challenges such as staff being robbed or violent protest action, the Informal Settlements: Basic Services department remained steadfastly committed to helping these communities,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Waste Alderman Xanthea Limberg.</p><p>As part of the COVID-19 mitigation measures, water pressure to informal settlements has been increased to compensate for the impact of illegal water connections. </p><p>‘I would like to thank our dedicated teams and contractors, who continue to go above and beyond to help communities reduce the spread of COVID-19. Thanks are also due to the City’s Environmental Health Department and Scientific Services, who ensure that the water is safe to drink.</p><p>‘I also want to thank National Government for their partnership. This extensive work and collaboration between the City’s Department of Water and Sanitation and our counterparts in National Government has resulted in the successful completion of Phase 2 of the water tank programme,’ said Alderman Limberg.</p>
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<img class="responsive" src="http://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Centre/water%20delivery%20truck%202.jpg" alt="" /> </figure></span><span></span><span></span><p>Community awareness drives are ongoing to reach residents with messages about how to wash hands effectively with less water, and the importance of social distancing.</p><p>During the higher levels of lockdown, the community awareness campaigns, driving messages of hygienic best practices, have been done through loudhailer tours of neighbourhoods, rapid and extensive dissemination of pamphlets/posters in different languages, a radio campaign, and via community leaders in each settlement. The City is also providing training to communities on how to make squeeze bottles and tippy taps, which make washing hands easier in informal settlements. </p><p>During the delivery of water to the community, those doing the delivery are also asked to reiterate health and safety advice provided by City Health officials.</p><p><br><strong>End</strong><br></p> | 2020-10-25T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
