| Residents have the right to public transport and not to be held to ransom | As the taxi strike enters its second week and as taxi associations CATA and CODETA refuse to come to an agreement | <p></p><p>As the taxi strike enters its second week and as taxi associations CATA and CODETA refuse to come to an agreement, even with the interventions of all three spheres of government, today marks the fourth day where we have seen no incidents of violence. </p><p>At the first briefing of the day this morning, there were no reports of any violence linked to the ongoing taxi conflict. The same was true over the past weekend, which means the violence was limited to Friday last week and Tuesday morning this week.</p><p>However, we have been informed of continuous incidents of intimidation levelled at Golden Arrow Bus Service (GABS) drivers and commuters and even attempts at throwing paint at the windscreens of GABS buses.</p><p>This is most unfortunate, particularly as GABS has taken the decision to start increasing the number of buses operating, to assist commuters who have been forced to take time off work or left stranded due to the unavailability of public transport, but also due to concerns for their personal safety.</p><p>These acts are cowardly and reprehensible and cannot be condoned. The City supports the statements by Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula and Transport MEC Daylin Mitchell and calls on CATA and CODETA to immediately resolve their issues and to leave others out of their dispute.</p><p>Just because they are not operating, does not mean they have the right to hold the public to ransom. CATA and CODETA cannot attempt to enforce their strike on other taxi associations or GABS. <br>The public have a right to public transport and CATA and CODETA do not have the right to extend their strike to other public transport suppliers through intimidation and violence. </p><p>This is criminal and we call on the South African Police Service and the criminal justice system to prioritise these cases and ensure that the public see the law being applied to violent offenders in CATA and CODETA. The City expresses its sincere appreciation to the Provincial Commissioner of SAPS, Lieutenant General Patekile, for his interventions to put in place a dedicated team to address the violence and investigate the attackers.</p><p>While CATA and CODETA taxis have been on strike, other taxi associations are operating and GABS has today resumed 95% of their operations at ranks and Public Transport Interchanges (PTIs) across the City. </p><p>This includes Khayelitsha, Langa, Samora Machel and Nyanga where operations resumed this morning from the area in front of Nyanga SAPS near the rank. Spiteful minibus taxis affiliated to either CATA or CODETA blocked the Nyanga rank late last night by abandoning their vehicles to obstruct access. The City’s Safety and Security Directorate is currently formulating an operational plan, along with SAPS, to have these vehicles impounded and towed away.</p><p>The robust enforcement interventions and operations by the City through its Traffic, Metro Police and Law Enforcement departments as well as the deployment of the South African Police have managed to suppress further violence by CATA and CODETA. </p><p>This has included daily deployments to protect PTIs and escort vehicles starting from 04:00. The City wants to thank the SAPS for its close cooperation and diligence in the operations this week in relation to the taxi strike as well as during last week to prevent looting incidents</p><p>The Safety and Security Directorate will support the efforts by the Transport Department and the Western Cape Provincial Government and National Government to bring the taxi strike to a close and will support the proclamation being issued by MEC Mitchell today that will take effect on Monday and which will impose further measures on CATA and CODETA.</p><p>The City’s enforcement services, in conjunction with SAPS, have increased patrols in areas that could be considered targets or hot spots and we call on the public to report any suspicious behaviour or imminent threats to the City’s Public Emergency Communication Centre by dialing 021 480 7700 from a cellphone or 107 from a landline.<br> </p><p>End</p> | 2021-07-22T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
| EPWP Women-at-Work repair teams on the road to final year of skills development | The EPWP Women-at-Work skills development project is a three-year project that started in July 2019 | <p></p><span><p>The EPWP Women-at-Work skills development project is a three-year project that started in July 2019. The project has entered its final year 2021/2022.</p><p>The concept for this project is based on transitioning women-only road repair teams into a male-dominated environment through a training and change management support programme.</p><p>The ultimate aim of the project is to ensure that all 116 beneficiaries attend and participate in accredited and non-accredited training for its duration.</p>
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<img class="responsive" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Centre/women%20at%20work1.jpg" alt="" style="width:949px;" /> </figure></span><span><p>‘One of our main objectives is to invest in public and community works programmes that support skill development and economic inclusion – empowering women with skills while earning an income. The programme will go a long way in helping them to support their families, as some of them are single parents and breadwinners in their homes. As an inclusive city, the programme also advances diversity and our commitment to dedicating resources and efforts to transformation’ said the Acting Mayoral Committee Member for Transport, Alderman Dan Plato.</p><p>‘The Women-at-Work Programme aims to endorse gender equality on all levels within the City. Women are generally under-represented in several key areas of the transport sector. As we move towards Women’s Month, this project is considered a strategic initiative as it will enable the City to deliver on its mandate of integrated transport and urban development, specifically in the area of safe road infrastructure and maintenance,’ said Alderman Grant Twigg, Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Management.</p>
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<img class="responsive" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Centre/Women%20At%20Work%203.jpg" alt="" style="width:949px;" /> </figure></span><span><p><strong>Key training opportunities include:</strong></p><ul><li><div style="text-align:left;">Foundational/occupational training such as literacy, Matric, learner/driver’s licence, Council driver’s licence, Code 14 licence, Supervisor (as required).</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Formal advanced tactical training (Certification) about road repairs, stormwater cleaning, footway repairs and road markings.</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Change Management workshops/awareness training about values, diversity, sexual harassment, social, family, health.</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Life skills training, including financial and personal.</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Formal generic training about communication, interpersonal, teamwork, supervisory interviewing.</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Entrepreneurial training including administration, project management, financial management, people management and business start-up.</div></li></ul>
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<img class="responsive" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Centre/Women%20At%20Work%202.jpg" alt="" style="width:949px;" /> </figure></span><p>‘What excites me most, is that the women will at the end of this programme, be well equipped to either apply for permanent positions or start their own businesses and work directly with the City. The success of this programme has provided the opportunity to motivate for a further three-year project,’ said Alderman Twigg.</p><p><br>End</p><span></span><span></span><span></span> | 2021-07-22T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
| City advises of water supply disruption in Glencairn Heights area | City advises of water supply disruption in Glencairn Heights area | <p>Zero-pressure testing is part of the installation process for pressure management technology. Tests are done to see if there are any unmapped inflows that need to be taken into account before smart pressure reducing valves are installed. <br> <br>Residents are advised to store water in clean, sealed containers for use during this period and to ensure that their taps are closed to avoid water loss and/or damage when the supply is restored. <br> <br>This work forms part of the City’s Water Demand Management Strategy. Managing water pressure more effectively reduces the possibility of pipe bursts and water wastage.<br> <br>The City regrets any inconvenience caused.</p> | 2021-07-22T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
| Reminder: Call for nominations for District Six Community caretakers closing soon | The City wants to remind the District Six community that the closing date for submission of nominations for representatives at Public Realm Improvement design workshops | <p>The nominees will have to prepare and commit to attending workshops from September until December 2021.</p><p><strong>The criteria for nominations is:</strong></p><ul><li><div style="text-align:left;">Determine your constituency/representative groups such as schools, religious organisations,</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Print out the attached nomination form, fill it in, nominating a representative of a specific constituency </div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Get the nominated person to sign acceptance of the nomination</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Scan the signed form or take a photo of it and email the nomination back to: <a href="mailto:D6.publicrealmstrategy@capetown.gov.za" target="_blank">D6.publicrealmstrategy@capetown.gov.za</a> </div></li></ul><p>‘So far, we have received one nomination and would like to encourage more people to participate in the process of redesigning their community. We are committed to building integrated communities by partnering with the community. We also respect that as residents and custodians of the area, they have inherent knowledge and their involvement will bring about the needed transformative change and a sense of pride,’ said Alderman Marian Nieuwoudt, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment.</p><p>Nomination form available here: <a href="https://bit.ly/CCT-D6Caretakers" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/CCT-D6Caretakers</a> </p><p><br><strong>End</strong></p> | 2021-07-21T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
