| City firefighters injured in gas explosion | Negligence and the incorrect storage of gas cylinders led to the injury of four City firefighters early this morning. | <p>Negligence and the incorrect storage of gas cylinders led to the injury of four City firefighters early this morning.</p><p>While I am grateful that the firefighting staff only sustained minor injuries, I am aware that the incident could have led to serious injury or even fatality.</p><p>Our Fire and Rescue Service responded to a fire at an education building at 05:00 in Proton Road, Belhar. The fire started in a pile of wood stored next to a steel container and, as in most instances, the contents of the building or structure is not reported unless the incident occurs during office hours and the caller is calling from the actual incident scene.</p><p>Radiated heat then spread to the steel container and ignited the personal protective equipment. The fire then spread to where the liquid petroleum gas was stored. The cylinder subsequently overheated and exploded. In this case the cylinders were stored in an area where they overheated because of the fire.</p><p>The City has indicated time and again, and as recently as Sunday, that negligence plays a role in a number of fires that our staff respond to. </p><p>I will be visiting the injured firemen this week. One of them was inside the container at the time of the explosion and was taken to hospital suffering from disorientation. A learner firefighter was thrown backwards and sustained minor injuries when a metal post landed on his left leg, and the station commander suffered a bruise on his forehead, bleeding from his mouth and second degree burns on the back of his head.</p><p>The City’s fire fighters are a passionate team dedicated to saving lives and property. It can be a thankless job at times, but I salute them for their bravery and their commitment to keeping residents and the city safe. </p><p>Building safety in respect of fires has been in the spotlight in recent weeks. The City’s Fire Life Safety Inspectorate conducted nearly 1 700 building inspections in the last financial year and responded to 280 complaints. They issued 1 281 written notices for contraventions of the Community Fire Safety By-Law and two Section 56 notices to building owners to appear in court.</p><p>I appeal to the public to assist us by being more vigilant around flammable materials at all times regardless of the use of the building. Exercise caution when using, storing or handling equipment that could ignite or produce heat. </p><p><strong>End</strong><br></p> | 2018-09-18T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
| Open Day takes local government to the residents of Lotus River and Grassy Park | Statement by the City's Executive Mayor, Patricia de Lille | <p>Service delivery excellence is one of the cornerstones of the City of Cape Town’s reputation as a well-run city and it is important that, as an administration, we constantly reach out to residents to inform them of projects in their communities.</p><p>Today I joined Councillor Patricia van der Ross (Ward 65) for a service delivery Open Day in Lotus River.</p>
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<p>The Open Day, organised by Councillor Van der Ross, is held twice a year and rotates across the ward annually.</p><p>Officials from various departments, including Revenue, Housing, Health, Law Enforcement and Social Development were part of the Open Day to assist residents with pertinent issues.</p>
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<p>The initiative is about taking service delivery closer to the doorstep of many residents who cannot afford transport fees to go to Council offices. It is also aimed at ensuring that residents are able to hold their elected representatives accountable.</p><p>Councillor Van der Ross has also held numerous meetings to share plans with residents on how the ward allocation funding for 2018/19 will be spent. The projects include R200 000 worth of upgrades to Stephen Road Park, Brookford Road Park, Lake Road Park and Peter’s Way Park. These parks will be fitted with gym equipment to help residents live active, healthy lifestyles.</p><p>A further R250 000 has been set aside for the installation of CCTV Cameras in Lotus River as well as traffic calming measures in Grassy Park and Lotus River.</p><p>Ward 65 is also hosting its annual reading competition for pupils in Grades 3 to 7 to encourage literacy in English, isiXhosa and Afrikaans among primary school learners.</p><p>Service delivery outreach programmes such as this Open Day go hand-in-hand with the Mayoral Pop-Up Office, aimed at improving relations between the municipality and residents.</p><p>The Pop-Up Office, an initiative by the Mayor’s Office, takes the government to residents’ doorsteps and also provides them with face-to-face engagement with City representatives and officials about service delivery.</p>
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<p>This is of course in line with goals set by the City’s Organisational Development and Transformation Plan (ODTP) to be an administration which puts the needs of Capetonians first.</p><p>As a result of the Mayoral Pop-Up Office, my office has been able to escalate more than 300 individual complaints from our eight activations in Athlone, Eerste Rivier, Khayelitsha, Masiphumele, Albow Gardens, Pelican Park, Heideveld and Jim se Bos.</p><p>Outreach initiatives such as the Open Day or the Pop-Up Office are but a few programmes the City is hosting to make the administration more accessible, responsive, and visible to all its residents.</p><p>I encourage residents to keep connecting with their Area Mayco Members, ward councillors and subcouncil offices on a regular basis so that they can be informed of developments in their wards and can work with us to build safe and inclusive communities.</p><p>
<b>End</b> </p> | 2018-09-18T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
| City pharmacists give more than a spoonful of sugar | The majority of pharmacists are employed at City Health’s bigger facilities and two pharmacists are stationed at the City Health medical store | <span><p>The ranks of the City of Cape Town’s corps of 32 pharmacists and 54 pharmacist’s assistants will soon be bolstered with an additional intake of pharmacists and assistants.</p><p>In addition, the City has commenced with a five-year information technology modernization project for the City Health Department.</p>
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<img class="responsive" src="http://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Centre/Pharmacy1.jpg" alt="" style="width:948px;" /> </figure></span><span><p>‘Currently, one of the biggest challenges within City Health is the lack of a computerised dispensing and medicine stock control system. The dispensing of medicine to patients and medicine control at City Health facilities is only done manually. The growth of City Health’s primary healthcare service has necessitated the need for more posts, although the service is primarily provided by nurses with limited doctor and pharmaceutical services support. The City has allocated additional budget and City Health has prioritised the appointment of pharmacists and assistant pharmacists over the next five years,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security; and Social Services, Alderman JP Smith. </p><p>The majority of pharmacists are employed at City Health’s bigger facilities and two pharmacists are stationed at the City Health medical store. </p>
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<img class="responsive" src="http://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Centre/pharmacy2.jpg" alt="" style="width:791px;" /> </figure></span><span><p>There are also subdistrict pharmacists who coordinate the pharmaceutical services and who travel between clinics to assist nursing personnel. </p><p>‘Pharmacy Month not only celebrates the work they do, but also aims to encourage learners to consider pursuing a profession in the industry. Pharmacists work with other healthcare professionals such as doctors and nurses, and help to ensure that patients get the most out of their medication,’ said Alderman Smith.<br>City pharmacists are ready to assist in the challenges of the four sub-themes of Pharmacy Month which encourage clients to know their medicines, store it correctly, travel safely with medicine and talk to their pharmacist.</p><p>‘Our pharmacists will emphasise the importance of taking medicine correctly as prescribed by the clinician, provide education on how to store medicine correctly including keeping it out of reach of children and avoiding the storage of medicine in the bathroom and kitchen. Pharmacists will be happy to explain the correct storage should a fridge not be available in the household. Our pharmacists will even organise small cooler boxes if required,’ explained Alderman Smith.</p>
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<img class="responsive" src="http://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Centre/Pharmacy3.jpg" alt="" style="width:1069px;" /> </figure></span><p>Pharmacists can assist with enquiries about traveling with medicine locally, keeping medicine safe to prevent theft or avoiding issues at customs when going overseas; as well as when travelling to endemic areas such as those prone to malaria. </p><p>This is in line with the goals of the City’s Organisational Development and Transformation Plan to provide quality holistic healthcare for all.</p><p>‘Pharmacists are no longer just the traditional dispensers of medicine. They are more actively involved in patient care, building relationships to help patients understand their medication regimens and reinforce their roles as trusted health advisors,’ said Alderman Smith.</p><p><strong>End</strong></p><span></span><span></span><span></span> | 2018-09-17T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
| Cape Town consistently provides better services compared to any other metro in South Africa | City of Cape Town is consistently providing higher levels of service delivery to its residents compared to any other city in South Africa. | <p>I am pleased as outgoing Executive Mayor to learn that the City of Cape Town is consistently providing higher levels of service delivery to its residents compared to any other city in South Africa.</p><p>The Financial and Fiscal Commission (FFC) presented a report to the Mayoral Committee today that stated the City of Cape Town is providing flush toilets and weekly refuse removal at a higher percentage rate than any other metro. </p><p>A total of 93,8% of households in Cape Town have access to a flush toilet while 93,2% of households in Nelson Mandela Metropolitan; 88,6% of households in Johannesburg; and 85,4% of household in Ekurhuleni have access to flush toilets, respectively.</p><p>The City also removes refuse once a week from 87,8% of households in Cape Town – the highest of any city in South Africa. Johannesburg removes refuse from of 85,4% of households and Ekurhuleni services 84,8% of households.</p><p>The City of Cape Town provides safe drinking water to 93,7% of households. This is second only to Johannesburg that provides safe drinking water to 94,1% of households.</p><p>In my position as Mayor for the past seven years, these figures are a clear indication of the success my team and I have achieved in providing quality services to all residents. It also shows that, under my leadership, the City has successfully implemented a pro-poor budget that creates a caring city, while fostering an enabling environment for business to create jobs.</p><p>Last month, Statistics South Africa stated that employment in Cape Town increased by 74 000 in the second quarter of 2018 compared to the same time last year. The City’s expanded unemployment rate is the lowest of all metros in South Africa at 22,6% and far below the national expanded unemployment rate of 37,2%. </p><p>The FFC is correct to say that if we want to eradicate poverty, and that government has to speed up economic growth and provide equal access to services and opportunities.</p><p>The City of Cape Town is on a strong footing by continuing to deliver on its budgeted projects and the five-year Integrated Development Plan (IDP).</p><p>Going forward, we must ensure a great city becomes even greater.</p><p>I also want to congratulate MEC Dan Plato for coming back to the City.</p><p><strong>End</strong></p>
| 2018-09-17T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
