| Mayoral Pop-Up Office takes local government to Pelican Park | The City of Cape Town is making a lot of progress in Pelican Park and this morning, as part of the Mayoral Pop-Up Office initiative, | <p>The City of Cape Town is making a lot of progress in Pelican Park and this morning, as part of the Mayoral Pop-Up Office initiative, I visited the area along with Cllr Gerry Gordon and Council Chief Whip, Cllr Shaun August.</p><p>Over the last few months we have worked to improve communication with residents by taking local government to communities through the Mayoral Pop-Up Office. </p><p>This to ensure that our residents have a platform where they can share their concerns about service delivery, as well as their ideas on how the City can improve services to the community. </p><p>Through this innovative concept, we are also able to provide Capetonians with information on services and give updates on projects in their communities. </p><p>We started our day with a visit to the Tehillah Educare Centre in Seawinds where we donated a geyser to the facility and visited beneficiaries of the Pelican Park housing development. </p><p>This morning we also took the opportunity to visit the proposed site of Phase 2 of the Pelican Park housing development which is to benefit more than 2 300 residents.</p><span><div class="image-gallery-slider img-gal-1" id="img-gal-1" data-slides="3" data-slide="1" style="height:493.5px;"><div class="image-gallery-content" style="height:414px;">
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<i class="icon arrow-white-prev"></i></div></div></div></div></span><p> </p><p>The City has already appointed a professional team of consultants for the project which will deliver approximately 2 330 state-subsidised, GAP and market-related houses.</p><p>Phase 2 housing will be in addition to the 2 013 State-subsidised homes the City has already delivered to residents in Pelican Park over the last five years. We have since also handed over more than 900 title deeds to new homeowners.</p><p>In addition, I made a stop at the site of the clinic in Pelican Park where the City has invested R46 million for the construction of the new facility. The clinic will be completed later this year. </p><p>The facility will provide a full basket of services to residents of Pelican Park, Lotus River and surrounds once it is operational.</p><p>Cllr Gordon, working with the subcouncil and City officials, has been at the coalface of service delivery in ward 67 and led a work readiness training programme for 60 young people from the ward in the previous financial year. More funds have been set aside for the programme to ensure that other youth continue to benefit in the 2018/19 financial year.</p><p>The Pop-Up Office is one of the Mayor’s Office’s new initiatives to make government more accessible, responsive, and I believe it is always vital to engage with residents about the City’s services face-to-face.</p><p>The City’s Organisational Development and Transformation Plan’s (ODTP) goal of building a customer-centric administration that is responsive to the needs of our residents is realised through the Mayoral Pop-Up Office. </p><p>Today it was enlightening to meet a resident who was among the first 100 beneficiaries of the Pelican Park housing development five years ago. Mrs Gwendelen Clarke moved into her home in 2013 after spending years living in a backyard with her husband and their children. </p><p>Mr Ronnie Adams, who lives with his daughter, took ownership of his house in Pelican Park two years ago. Mr Adams, originally from Hanover Park, is pleased that he was finally off the housing waiting list and has his own home. </p><p>Our interaction with residents does not end with the Pop-Up Office and I would like to encourage residents to keep connecting with their area-based Mayco members, ward councillors and subcouncil offices on a regular basis so that they can be informed of developments in their wards and work with us to build safe and inclusive communities.</p><p>Since kicking off the Mayoral Pop-Up Office two months ago, we have visited six communities and dealt with more than 100 individual complaints ranging from housing queries to water billing and refuse collection. </p><p>In one instance, following our engagement in Athlone, illegal dumping was removed immediately. The City also ordered additional refuse bins for a block of flats in Kewtown and we have resolved a payment issue for EPWP workers stationed in the area.</p><p>In Masiphumelele, where residents mostly raised issues around a lack of housing, the City has conducted a two-day registration drive in the community. More than 800 people were registered during that campaign. </p><p>We have taken this concept to Eerste River, Khayelitsha and Albow Gardens and will visit even more areas in the coming weeks as part of our commitment to ensuring the best quality of service for all residents of this great city.</p><p><br><strong>End</strong></p> | 2018-08-16T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
| City Parks spring into action to mow parks and verges | The City of Cape Town’s Recreation and Parks Department is aware that their mowing programme this time of year causes equal doses of delight and dismay. | <p>The City of Cape Town’s Recreation and Parks Department is aware that their mowing programme this time of year causes equal doses of delight and dismay.</p><p>‘Mowing always causes controversy, especially around spring, as some residents are delighted with trimmed lawns while others prefer the wild abandon of flowers. The department has started to mow our parks, open spaces, cemeteries and metro road verges, even though there has already been an explosion of annuals and perennials which germinates in the wet soils, during the warmer temperatures,’ said the City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security; and Social Services, Alderman JP Smith. </p><p>Many residents and visitors to the areas where the flowers occur contend that they should be left untouched and not mowed until the seeds have ripened and dropped. </p><p>Some of these blooming arrivals are remnants of indigenous renosterbos and strandveld, which can transform open spaces into Namaqualand-type flower shows. </p><p>Other vegetation making their appearance includes weed grasses such as Common wild oats and broadleaf weeds such as Patterson’s curse. These weeds quickly push their flower heads upwards and reach 1,5 metres high, even within a matter of days after being mowed.</p><p>‘Mowing causes contention. Residents complain every year, either for areas to be mowed or for the wild flowers to be left undisturbed. Each spring we have numerous requests for both,’ said Alderman Smith. </p><p>Recreation and Parks officials are committed to prompt and effective service delivery as the city has more than 6,461 hectares of land to be mowed, which is no small task. </p><p>‘Depending on the conservation element that needs to be protected mowing programmes take conservation principles into account. Therefore, there are many open areas throughout the city, including identified biodiversity areas or nature sensitive areas where mowing does not take place and where spring flowers can be seen. However, all efforts are being made to keep our parks and sidewalks tidy and properly maintained,’ said Alderman Smith.</p><p>Generally, if residents want the City to stop cutting grass in a certain park, they need to submit their request in writing to their local Recreation and Parks Department with signatures of support from neighbours, indicating that they agree with the request. Staff are then instructed not to mow those parks while the spring flowers are in bloom, usually during September and October.</p><p>‘The only risk is that we may receive complaints from people who feel that the uncut grass is untidy and not being properly maintained. Due to the conducive weather conditions of spring, fast growth of grass can be expected. Grass on the sidewalks would still need to be cut in order to ensure that safety standards are upheld and there is clear visibility for pedestrians and motorists. </p><p>‘We should also not underestimate the impact that the drought has had over the past years, in seeds not germinating or flowering as much as in previous years when there was enough water. We will truly see the impact in September and October. At the moment it is still winter and the flowers that bloom now are sporadic due to the sudden warm weather and recent rainfall,’ added Alderman Smith.</p><p>The City is committed to making Cape Town an inclusive place where residents feel safe and proud of their parks. </p><p>Concerns about uncut grass in parks and on sidewalks, can be directed to <a>021 400 9538</a> or <a>021 400 4688</a> or <a>021 400 9538</a>.</p><p>
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| Mayoral office pops into Albow Gardens rental units | Today, we took the Mayoral Pop-Up Office to Albow Gardens near Brooklyn where the City of Cape Town is also refurbishing Council Rental Units (CRUs). | <p>Today, we took the Mayoral Pop-Up Office to Albow Gardens near Brooklyn where the City of Cape Town is also refurbishing Council Rental Units (CRUs).<br><br>I was joined by Mayoral Committee Members Suzette Little and Stuart Diamond, as well as Ward Councillor Fabian Ah-Sing. </p><p>This is the fifth time we have taken the Mayoral Pop-Up Office to our communities to further boost the City of Cape Town’s relations with its residents.</p><p>This new initiative by the Mayor’s office is a realisation of the City’s Organisational Development and Transformation Plan (ODTP) goal of building a customer-centric administration that is responsive to the needs of our residents. <br>We started our visit this morning with a walkabout of the Albow Gardens Council Rental Units that are currently being upgraded by the City.</p><p>The Albow Gardens CRUs comprises 212 units which are home to approximately 1 272 residents. </p><p>The project started in October 2017, with three blocks at the south-end of the complex being upgraded and completed in the 2017/2018 financial year. </p><span><div class="image-gallery-slider img-gal-1" id="img-gal-1" data-slides="3" data-slide="1" style="height:493.5px;"><div class="image-gallery-content" style="height:414px;">
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<i class="icon arrow-white-prev"></i></div></div></div></div></span><p> </p><p>Upgrades included repairs to staircases, cracked walls, leaking roofs, eaves gutters, downpipes and windows and the painting of facades has also been completed. The total project cost was R2,1 million.</p><p>The City provided jobs and much needed skills for possible future employment opportunities by appointing local residents to assist in the project.</p><p>‘The upgrade project forms part of the City’s asset management plan to improve the condition of the City’s rental stock units. The Council rental units are a vital part of the affordable residential accommodation continuum that provides homes to the poorest of the poor residents,’ said Councillor Diamond </p><p>Further upgrades will focus on water saving initiatives, and will start in September 2018. The upgrades will include internal and external works such as:</p><ul><li><div style="text-align:left;">leak repairs</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Installing dual-flush in-toilet cisterns </div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Installing restrictors in existing taps for wash basins and kitchen sinks</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Replacing broken sanitary ware where applicable</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Moving stack pipes (waste outlet pipes) from inside the unit, and to surface mount these to external building walls</div></li></ul><p>The City will also be employing local labour for this project and spend approximately R4 million in the 2018/2019 financial year. The project is expected to be completed by mid-December 2018, if all goes as planned.</p><p>One of the beneficiaries of the project is 72-year-old Ms Safia Moosa who was previously on the housing database for 27 years. The pensioner lived in Manenberg before she was handed the keys to her rental unit which she occupies with her son and two grandchildren.</p><p>The City converted the underutilised old housing office into a rental unit which is now home to the Moosa family. </p><p>I was also really impressed with the community food garden which has been started to encourage a healthy lifestyle among residents.</p><p>The garden was established by the City through the previous Ward Councillor with the assistance from a member of the Provincial Legislature. It is being kept running by the residents who give their time to clear weeds, water the plants, and harvest the produce. </p><p>The City’s social development department also donates soil and seedlings.</p><p>This garden is a good example of how residents can partner with local government to improve their communities and empower residents.</p><p>I’m grateful to those involved in the project and councillor Ah-Sing for leaving this and other successful projects in Ward 55.</p><p>Over the last few months we have worked to foster greater collaboration between communities and the City through the Mayoral Pop-Up Office. This is to ensure that our residents have a platform where they can share their concerns about service delivery, as well as their ideas on how the City can improve services to the community. </p><p>Following our previous Pop-Up office in Masiphumelele where residents mostly raised issues around a lack of housing, the City has conducted a two-day registration drive in the community. More than 800 people were registered during that campaign.</p><p>Residents were also advised of the Phase 4 Project, which will provide housing opportunities to Masiphumelele, including those near a wetland. All 12 individual complaints received during that Pop-Up office last month has been responded to and closed. </p><p>Through this innovative concept we are also able to provide Capetonians with information of services and updates on projects in their communities. </p><p>We remain committed to ensuring the best quality of service for all residents of this great city.<br>Our interaction with residents should not end with the Pop-Up office. I am encouraging residents to keep connecting with their Area-based Mayoral Committee Members, Ward Councillors and Subcouncil offices on a regular basis so that they can be informed of developments in their wards and work with us to build safe and inclusive communities.<br></p><p> </p><p><strong>End</strong><br></p> | 2018-08-15T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
| City to spend around R40 million on securing community facilities | The City of Cape Town’s Social Services Directorate is planning a major financial injection this financial year to keep community facilities safe from criminals. | <p>The City of Cape Town’s Social Services Directorate is planning a major financial injection this financial year to keep community facilities safe from criminals.</p><p>The Directorate’s facilities include clinics, libraries, community centres, sports fields and resorts, among others. Some of these facilities are prone to acts of vandalism and crime, with millions lost as a result of ongoing repairs and replacement of stolen equipment and infrastructure, but also untold costs in the disruption of services to communities.</p><p>In a bid to stem the tide, Social Services plan to implement a number of initiatives in this financial year, including:</p><ul><li><div style="text-align:left;">R10,1 million for security hardening measures like burglar bars, alarm systems, high mast lighting, etc.;</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">R20 million for the deployment of Facility Protection Officers; and</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">R9,8 million for the deployment of 312 Safety Wardens</div></li></ul><p>The security upgrades and staff deployment will happen city-wide, with a special focus on hotspot areas.</p><p>‘The City has hundreds of facilities designed to cater for the needs of the communities, but too often things fall flat because the facility is damaged and service delivery or access is disrupted. It is not just hard on the pocket as a result of the running repairs, but it affects the morale of both residents and staff members.</p><p>‘For example, a seemingly simple act of cable theft at a clinic could have far-reaching consequences. If there is no electricity, staff can’t work and patients can’t be treated. The clinic is closed until the damage is repaired and frankly, that doesn’t necessarily happen immediately. So just the cost to people’s lives and their time from these selfish acts is immense,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security; and Social Services, Alderman JP Smith.</p><p>Apart from security hardening measures, the Social Services Directorate is also funding the deployment of 90 Auxiliary Law Enforcement Officers and 70 safety wardens through the Facility Protection initiative. It started as a pilot project in 2017, where Neighbourhood Watch members in good standing were trained and employed through the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) to conduct patrols in and around facilities in their areas. This initiative creates a visible presence around high-risk facilities, and the people employed know the area well and have a vested interest in safeguarding their communities.</p><p>Additionally, 312 Safety Wardens are to be deployed to hotspot facilities through the Recreation and Parks Access Control and Protection project. The recruitment of Safety Wardens is an additional initiative to help address the ongoing theft, vandalism and security issues prevalent at City facilities and spaces. </p><p>They will be tasked with:</p><ul><li><div style="text-align:left;">basic access control at facilities and monitoring facility usage over weekends and after hours;</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">engaging users, clubs, individuals or members of the public about facility use or any by-law contraventions;</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">alerting Law Enforcement or line staff of any vandalism, theft, by-law or other contraventions; </div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">monitoring and recording water usage, wastage or any contraventions of the water restrictions; and</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">monitor and record electricity usage at facilities</div></li></ul><p>‘Given the number of facilities across the metropole, it is challenging to keep tabs on all of them, all of the time. The Safety Wardens are not security guards, but rather eyes and ears on the ground that we hope will help prevent problems, but also highlight problems when they do arise so that these can be addressed quickly.</p><p>‘We are spending a lot of money on improving the protection of our facilities, but the users and surrounding communities also have a role to play. These community facilities are crucial to positive youth and community development, and so we can’t sit idly and allow a few individuals to destroy that which benefits so many. I appeal to residents to blow the whistle on criminals and to be vigilant and report any suspicions of wrongdoing to the City’s Law Enforcement Department or the South African Police Service,’ added Alderman Smith.</p><p><br><strong>End</strong></p> | 2018-08-14T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
