| City's new mobile X-ray service improves patient care | The City's X-ray service has come a long way from its one fixed room at the Chapel Street Clinic and four mobile vans at a time when X-rays were used as a screening tool for Tuberculosis (TB). | <span><p>The City's X-ray service has come a long way from its one fixed room at the Chapel Street Clinic and four mobile vans at a time when X-rays were used as a screening tool for Tuberculosis (TB).</p><p>The new mobile X-ray unit is fully computerised and hard copies of images can be printed if required. The computerized X-ray machines are loaded with high-tech features that produce high-quality images in a short time.</p>
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<img class="responsive" src="http://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Centre/xray3.jpg" alt="" style="width:844px;" /> </figure></span><span><p>'The mobile X-ray service consists of a truck fitted with an x-ray unit/machine, image processor and a computer. Clients are seen at our TB clinics and referred for X-rays if needed. Often in our townships there are no facilities nearby where the service can be rendered. This is where the truck proves its worth as we can take the service to where it's needed,' said the City of Cape Town's Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security; and Social Services, Alderman JP Smith.</p><p>The truck does weekly rounds at various clinics and only chest X-rays are done on the truck due to limited space and the weight of the equipment involved.</p>
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<img class="responsive" src="http://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Centre/xray1.jpg" alt="" style="width:936px;" /> </figure></span><span><p><strong>The benefits for clients are many, including:</strong></p><ul><li><div style="text-align:left;">Less distance to walk or travel as the mobile truck can operate from the closest clinic</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">No need for clients to take hard copies to consultants/referring hospitals. Consulting can be done remotely and on site as reports and x-rays can be transmitted via the Internet</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Quick reporting as the clients do not need to come for follow-up visits as reporting will take place on same day</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Less repeats of images due to lost X-rays</div></li></ul><p><strong>The benefits for the City include:</strong></p><ul><li><div style="text-align:left;">No more harmful chemicals in use in darkrooms</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Financial benefits as less repeats are done, no chemicals, no processor maintenance</div></li></ul><p>Not all City clinics are able to provide an X-ray service as it requires expensive equipment, specialised staff, adequate space and special precautions to ensure that both the radiographer and the clients are safe from the radiation.</p>
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<img class="responsive" src="http://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Centre/xray2.jpg" alt="" style="width:850px;" /> </figure></span><p>All health facilities have made arrangements with a specific site where the X-rays for their clients are done. </p><p>'City Health is in the process of replacing all old units with digital units at clinics which do have the service. The upgrade will take place over five years and will enable staff to send images and reports to different clinics and consulting hospitals.</p><p>'New strides in technology means a faster, more efficient service to our clients. The City continues to strive for excellence in providing quality healthcare which in turn makes for healthier and more economically active communities,' said Alderman Smith.</p><p><br><strong>End</strong><br></p> | 2018-11-19T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
| City relocates last remains of old lady Commodore II in Milnerton | After months of planning and teamwork between various role-players, the final remains of the old lady Commodore II shipwreck were successfully relocated during a seven–hour operation on Friday 16 November. | <span><p><br>After months of planning and teamwork between various role-players, the final remains of the old lady Commodore II shipwreck were successfully relocated during a seven–hour operation on Friday 16 November. </p><p>A 130-ton mobile crane with a spreader beam and slings lifted the wreck, which weighed approximately 21 tons and is estimated to be about 14 metres in length and 6,8 metres in width. The wreck remained intact throughout the operation and it was transported on a low-bed truck to its resting place, a grass embankment owned by the City, near the Lagoon Beach Hotel.</p>
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<img class="responsive" src="http://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Centre/MILNERTON1.jpg" alt="" style="width:948px;" /> </figure></span><span><p>The public are able to view the remains of the shipwreck.</p><p>Context to the operation</p><p>Since the Commodore II shipwreck was uncovered during a winter storm in 2008, there were various attempts to relocate the old lady’s remains as it could pose a danger to boats in the river and it was considered as important historical evidence. </p><p>The recent relocation of the Commodore shipwreck was therefore included in the scope of work and budget for the rehabilitation and restoration of the historical Milnerton Wooden Bridge because of its close proximity to the bridge.</p><p>The bridge dates back to 1901 and was built by the Royal Engineers to provide entrance to a cannon trench. It was declared a National Monument by the old National Monuments Council on 17 July 1987.</p><p>During the months of preparations for the operation, the City’s Environmental Management Department had to obtain a permit from the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) to allow the relocation because the remains are of a wreck that is more than 60 years old and SAHRA considers it to be worthy of conservation. The Commodore II is seen as archaeological material under the National Heritage Resources Act (NHRA).</p>
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<img class="responsive" src="http://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Centre/MILNERTON2.jpg" alt="" style="width:802px;" /> </figure></span><span><p><strong>Brief history of the Commodore II</strong></p><p>The Commodore II was built in 1919 in Seattle in the United States. She is believed to have featured in the 1935 American blockbuster film Mutiny on the Bounty, with Clark Gable.</p><p>Apart from this, she was also used to ferry coal during World War 2. Shortly after, the grandson of President Paul Kruger bought the schooner and sailed to Buenos Aires in Argentina. It is here where her fortunes seemed to take a turn for the worse.</p>
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<img class="responsive" src="http://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Centre/MILNERTON3.jpg" alt="" style="width:949px;" /> </figure></span><p>When going up the River Plate, the ship was grounded on a mud bank and the damage to the hull took 40 days to repair. The Commodore II also caught fire but fortunately it was extinguished quickly.</p><p>On her return, disaster struck again when the boat was hit by a heavy storm which left the mast, rigging and sails all severely damaged. Emergency repairs led the vessel and crew safely back to Cape Town, where the ship was stripped and the remains left to the mercy of Milnerton's breakers.</p><p><strong>Relocation site</strong></p><p>‘I would really like to commend all the role-players, especially our City officials, who have been very involved and committed to relocating the final remains of the Commodore II shipwreck. This mission really had two purposes: firstly, to ensure the safety of the public who are using the river while they are on their boats; and secondly, to relocate the important historical evidence.</p><p>‘We do believe this is an important part of history which is worth preserving for generations to come. As such, going forward, there will be an information board on the site to educate the public around this schooner and its story.</p><p>‘Finally, I want to thank the public for their patience over the many months and while this operation was under way. We appreciate your support,’ said Alderman Felicity Purchase, the City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Transport and Urban Development.<br> <br><strong>End</strong></p> | 2018-11-19T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
| Kommetjie Road Project making headway | The City of Cape Town has made good progress with the Kommetjie Road Project, one of our flagship interventions to relieve congestion in the Kommetjie area in the Far South. | <span><p>‘Residents from Kommetjie and Noordhoek would’ve noticed that we’ve started placing the asphalt layers on the newly constructed lanes along Kommetjie Road and Ou Kaapse Weg last week. This marks an important milestone as the groundwork from the past 24 months or so is finally becoming visible, and hopefully this also gives the locals some satisfaction for enduring the inconvenience that goes with roadworks in general,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Transport and Urban Development, Alderman Felicity Purchase.</p><p>The Kommetjie Road Project is part of the City’s Congestion Management Programme and is due for completion by the end of 2019, pending any unforeseen challenges. The budget for this project is R194 million and approximately R100 million has been spent to date.<br></p>
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<img class="responsive" src="http://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Centre/Kommetjie1.jpg" alt="" style="width:871px;" /> </figure></span><span><p>‘Apart from the improvements to the road infrastructure and the congestion relief this project will bring, one of the current and most important benefits is the temporary jobs that have been provided to local residents as part of the contract. Up to 45 local residents are currently employed as temporary workers on this project. In fact, since this project started in October 2016 to date, more than R5,1 million has been paid to men and women from the area who have been employed as temporary workers. </p><p>‘Local subcontractors have also benefitted – to date over R2,1 million has been spent on the procurement of goods and services from local businesses. One can never overemphasise the boost that comes with R7,2 million. Not only is this an injection to the local economy, it also empowers residents with jobs, and with jobs comes dignity,’ said Alderman Purchase. </p><p>About 4 000 tons of asphalt will be placed by the start of the builders’ holiday on 14 December 2018. </p>
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<img class="responsive" src="http://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Centre/kommetjie2.jpg" alt="" style="width:839px;" /> </figure></span><span><p></p><p>‘Motorists won’t be allowed to use the new lanes as yet. These will be barricaded during the festive season and the contractor will do regular inspections to ensure compliance. The traffic will be shifted to the new lanes only once we’re ready to start with the rehabilitation of the existing lanes a few months into 2019,’ said Alderman Purchase.</p><p><strong>All-in-all the Kommetjie Road Project entails roadworks covering a distance of approximately 3,5 km:</strong></p><ul><li><div style="text-align:left;">the upgrade of Kommetjie Road (M65) to a four-lane dual-carriageway between Capri Drive and Corsair Way, and the rehabilitation of the existing roadway</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">the upgrade of Ou Kaapse Weg (M6) to a four-lane dual-carriageway between Noordhoek Main Road and Kommetjie Road, and the rehabilitation of the existing roadway</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">the upgrade of the intersection at Ou Kaapse Weg and Silvermine Road to improve the sight distance for road users</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">the upgrade of the four signalised intersections with additional turning lanes to improve the capacity and flow of traffic at Kommetjie Road and Capri Drive; Kommetjie Road and Ou Kaapse Weg; Ou Kaapse Weg and Buller Louw Boulevard; and at Ou Kaapse Weg and Noordhoek Main Road</div></li></ul>
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<img class="responsive" src="http://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Centre/kommetjie3.jpg" alt="" style="width:2135px;" /> </figure></span><p>The preparations for the rehabilitation of the existing lanes will commence once the contractor returns from the builders’ holiday.</p><p>‘Part of the project is to create walkways for pedestrians along Kommetjie Road and Ou Kaapse Weg as many residents from this area can’t afford public transport, and walk to their destinations. The new roads will also have shoulders that are wide enough for cyclists,’ said Alderman Purchase.</p><p><strong>End</strong><br></p> | 2018-11-18T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
| Traffic officers recover hijacked vehicle | The City of Cape Town’s Traffic Service arrested 131 suspects in the last week and issued 8 299 fines for various offences | <p>The City of Cape Town’s Traffic Service arrested 131 suspects in the last week and issued 8 299 fines for various offences.</p><p>Of those arrested, 120 were motorists caught driving under the influence of alcohol at various roadblocks across the metropole. The highest number of arrests at a single roadblock occurred in Table View on Thursday 15 November 2018 where 22 motorists were taken into custody.</p><p>‘We’re heading into the period of year-end parties and general festive season merriment. My appeal to members of the public is to be mindful of their behaviour and to drink responsibly. There are so many different options available to us these days and I commend those people who have changed their behaviour by using private taxis or designated drivers to get to and from their destinations. However, the reality is that far too many people are still taking chances; often with devastating consequences,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security; and Social Services, Alderman JP Smith.</p><p>In Sea Point on Sunday 18 November 2018 officers made nine drunk driving arrests. The highest reading was nearly five times the legal limit at 1.12mg. They also suspended 31 vehicles deemed unroadworthy as a result of illegal modifications and not displaying registration plates, among others. </p><p>During the course of the afternoon, traffic officers were alerted to the hijacking of a Ford ST in Camps Bay. The vehicle was spotted in Sea Point and a high speed chase ensued all the way to Salt River, where the suspects abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot.</p><p><strong>The City’s Metro Police Department recovered two more stolen vehicles during their operations in the last week:</strong></p><ul><li><div style="text-align:left;">On Wednesday 14 November 2018 officers recovered a stolen motorcycle at a vehicle checkpoint in Salt River and arrested two suspects, aged 36 and 48.</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">The day before, the Metro Police Camera Response Unit helped a tracking company recover a stolen panel van in Kuils River. A 23-year-old suspect was arrested in that incident.</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Officers also arrested 15 suspects for drunk driving, reckless and negligent driving and for the possession of drugs.</div></li></ul><p>‘The licence plate recognition technology available to us, coupled with an increase in vehicle checkpoints help us to track down stolen vehicles or those that have been used to commit crimes. It is often the best way to help track and identify criminals, so we remind members of the public to be mindful of such details like the make and model of vehicles and the licence plate details where possible. </p><p>‘It is also worth noting that while this is a time of merriment for most, criminals are looking to exploit the fact that more people tend to let their guard down. If anything, we need to be more vigilant than ever over this period to avoid falling victim to criminals,’ said Alderman Smith. </p><p><strong>End</strong><br></p> | 2018-11-18T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
