| Keeping safe in cyberspace | Now in its 15th year, the Cyber Security Awareness campaign has been broken down into specific themes per week, with the focus for this week (22-26 October) on ‘Safeguarding the nation’s critical infrastructure | <p>Now in its 15th year, the Cyber Security Awareness campaign has been broken down into specific themes per week, with the focus for this week (22-26 October) on ‘Safeguarding the nation’s critical infrastructure’. The emphasis is on the importance of securing our critical infrastructure such as water, financial services, public health, and communications; and highlighting the roles the public can play in keeping it safe. Any disruption to these internet-based systems can have significant and even catastrophic consequences for our citizens.</p><p>‘The Fourth Industrial Revolution is disrupting the world one megabyte at a time, fundamentally altering the way we live, work, and relate to one another. In keeping with this revolution, the City of Cape Town is striving to be the most digitally connected city on the continent. To keep pace with technology, the City offers a host of e-services for its residents including emailed rates statements, online renewal of vehicle licences and logging of service requests, among a whole host of other services. As technology evolves, so do the capabilities of cybercriminals to scam and fool clients in various industries. Residents are cautioned that some may try to trick them by impersonating the City, which places them at risk,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Corporate Services, Councillor Raelene Arendse.</p><p>In line with good governance practices, cybersecure behaviour is important to the City. Therefore, the City wants to inform residents of best cybersecurity practices that they can follow to protect themselves against cybercriminals. One of the City’s strategic pillars is to build a safe city, which includes being safe online, whether while using the City’s e-services or other online portals and applications. A caring city strives to have their residents’ information protected, which includes their account information, personal information, profile details, email addresses and mobile numbers.</p><p>The theme for week one was ‘How to make your home a haven for online safety’ that placed emphasis on building a strong foundation for learning good cybersecurity practices that could ultimately lead to a career in the industry. Entire families are using the internet to study, work and socialize. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance that the entire family, including children, learn to use the internet safely and responsibly. With more people having internet access through 4G devices and networks at home, and internet usage on the rise, large amounts of personal information are being stored on devices, on social media platforms and in the cloud.</p><p>During week two there was an urgent push to highlight the millions of rewarding jobs to attract individuals to pursue a career in cybersecurity. The only way to build a strong defense against cyber-attacks is to build a network of cybersecurity professionals. </p><p>‘It’s everyone’s job to ensure online safety at work’ was the key theme for week three. Irrespective of where individuals work, we all have a shared responsibility to protect the organization online. The separation between work and our daily lives has become increasingly blurred; therefore, it is more important than ever to be certain that smart cybersecurity straddles the two. </p><p>‘The City’s IS&T Department has for a number of years been doing their bit to educate employees on the importance of cybersecurity and why it’s vital to protect yourself, and your information, online. The department has developed a Cybersecurity Handbook that highlights different types of digital risks and threats, and provides advice and useful tips for staying safe online. There have been numerous requests by employees to make the handbook available to their families. I am pleased to advise that we have taken this heart and made the publication available. Let us all STOP. THINK. VERIFY, before we act on a request that maybe too good to be true,’ said Councillor Arendse.</p><p>Copies of the booklets can be downloaded from the City of Cape Town website: <a href="http://www.capetown.gov.za/cybersecurity" target="_blank">www.capetown.gov.za/cybersecurity</a></p><p>Hard copies will be made available at subcouncil offices and libraries for those residents who may be unable to afford printing copies of the booklet.</p><p><strong>End</strong></p> | 2018-10-21T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
| City programme seeks to stamp out bullying | Bullying places the victims and the perpetrators at risk of academic and psycho-social challenges which may lead to absenteeism, underperformance, dropping out of school and suicide | <p>‘Bullying places the victims and the perpetrators at risk of academic and psycho-social challenges which may lead to absenteeism, underperformance, dropping out of school and suicide. Its impact can be felt for decades and bullies are more likely to become involved in criminal activities,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security; and Social Services, Alderman JP Smith.</p><p>The Inter- and Intra-personal Skills Programme was designed by the City’s Social Development and Early Childhood Development Substance Abuse Unit, and school principals requested that a bullying component be added.</p><p>Learners are taught basic inter-personal and intra-personal skills on the programme, including training in communication, interaction, and general life skills to improve and enhance their ability to interact with peers. The goal of the programme is to improve the self-perception of the learner, build self-esteem, help them be optimistic about their future, teach them perseverance and tolerance of others, manage peer challenges, enhance personal skills and also teaches participants how to express themselves better.</p><p>The department employs graduate learners with a background in development, trains them in the programme and then offers the programme at various spaces and City facilities to learners aged 9 to 13 years old. The spaces include, schools, recreation and park facilities, as well as holiday programmes.</p><p>The entire programme consists of nine sessions. Each session has a theme and activities aligned to enhance the message. Bullying is presented in the first session with the theme, ‘I am respectful’. Principals often request that the programme be offered to other grades as they have noted learners often relate to the content of the programme and recognise their bullying behaviour. </p><p>‘We are currently defining an expansion and roll-out plan to reach more learners. Bullying can have tragic consequences and a lasting impact on everyone affected. The mental health effects of bullying can be felt into adulthood and everyone, from parents to teachers, have a role to play in preventing bullying and ensuring safe environments for children,’ said Alderman Smith.</p><p><strong>End</strong><br></p> | 2018-10-21T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
| Dam levels decline slightly due to hot weather, wind | Dam levels have declined slightly by 0,4% over the last week to 75,6 % of storage capacity | <p>Dam levels have declined slightly by 0,4% over the last week to 75,6 % of storage capacity. This drop is due to evaporation caused by the hot and windy weather that has been experienced over the past week. </p><p>The average water consumption by water users, however, decreased slightly from 563 million litres per day to 556 million litres per day for the past week. </p><p>It is expected that the National Department of Water and Sanitation will only make its decision known in December about what the water usage limit for Cape Town will be for the year ahead. It is thus required that water usage remains in the current 500 million litre usage band. </p><p>The permitted usage under Level 5 restrictions is 70 litres per person per day; and the Level 5 tariffs are still on the higher end of the tariff scale and thus cost more. </p><p>Although we have successfully navigated the crisis, it is clear that our relationship with water continues to evolve for the better. </p><p><strong>Level 5 restriction don'ts</strong></p><ul><li><div style="text-align:left;"> No watering/irrigation with municipal water is allowed. Nurseries or customers involved in agricultural activities, or those with gardens of historical significance, may apply for exemption</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">No topping up (manual or automatic) of swimming pools with municipal drinking water is allowed</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">No washing of vehicles, including cars, taxis, trailers, caravans or boats allowed with municipal drinking water</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">No washing or hosing down of hard surfaces with municipal water</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">The use of municipal drinking water for ornamental fountains or water features is prohibited</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">All private swimming pools must be fitted with a cover</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">The use of any portable or temporary play pools is prohibited</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Should borehole/well-point water be used for outdoor purposes, including garden use, topping up of swimming pools and hosing down of surfaces, it should only be done for a maximum of one hour on Tuesdays and Saturdays before 09:00 and after 18:00. However, the City discourages the use of this water for these purposes to prevent the over-abstraction of aquifers</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">The operation of spray parks is prohibited</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">No new landscaping or sports fields may be established except if irrigated only with non-drinking water</div></li></ul><p> <br>Please visit <a href="http://www.capetown.gov.za/thinkwater" target="_blank">www.capetown.gov.za/thinkwater</a> for all water-related information, such as the Level 5 guidelines and Frequently Asked Questions. <br> <br><strong>End</strong></p> | 2018-10-21T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
| City of Cape Town extends its condolences to the family, colleagues and friends of Cllr Luyanda Mbele | Extend my heartfelt condolences to his family, fellow ANC councillors, colleagues and friends | <p>The City of Cape Town is saddened by the tragic murder of ANC Councillor Luyanda Maxwell Mbele. I extend my heartfelt condolences to his family, fellow ANC councillors, colleagues and friends. </p><p>Cllr Mbele passed away on Sunday evening after he was fatally shot in Kraaifontein. The full details and motive surrounding the killing are still unknown.</p><p>The South African Police Service has confirmed that they are currently investigating the matter and the City will offer its full support.</p><p>Cllr Mbele served as an ANC councillor in Ward 101 since he won the by-election on 9 December 2015. He was re-elected to the position in the 2016 municipal elections.</p><p>Cllr Mbele served on the Area-based Oversight Committee North and represented communities from Kraaifontein East, Bloekombos, Wynland Industrial Park and Wallacedene in Council.</p><p>I would like to call on anyone who has information about this brutal crime to contact the police if they have any information that will assist in arresting the criminals responsible for the councillor’s murder. </p><p><br><strong>End </strong><br></p> | 2018-10-21T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
