| Thousands to benefit from latest electrification projects in Khayelitsha, Philippi | The City of Cape Town is overjoyed with the progress to electrify thousands of households in Philippi and Khayelitsha this week. | <p>Construction of the infrastructure necessary to electrify Jim se Bos informal settlement in Philippi has started. The first phase of the electrification project will connect 450 households to the electricity grid. Further surveys will be undertaken to determine the number of households that will benefit from the second phase. </p><p>It is expected that the first phase of this R2,8 million City-project will be completed by the end of March 2019, if all goes according to plan.</p><p>‘Based on the site inspection that I have conducted, I am satisfied with the progress thus far and I thank the community for working with us to ensure that this phase is completed in the shortest possible timeframes. Access to electricity, where it is possible to install, is a game-changer especially for the most vulnerable in our society. It enables economic growth and allows small home-based businesses to operate more efficiently; it enhances safety; reduces the risk of fires; promotes better public health; and also creates an improved environment for learners to achieve better academic results since they no longer have to use candle light to do homework and study for exams.</p>
<img class="responsive" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Centre/electrificationProjectsFeb2019-s.jpg" alt="" /><br>
<p>‘We remain committed to improving the lives of our residents in informal settlements. According to the City’s latest Annual Report, 97,3% of our households have access to electricity, 98,4% have access to refuse removal and 94,3% have access to sanitation,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Energy and Climate Change, Councillor Phindile Maxiti.</p><p>The City’s Electricity Generation and Distribution Department as well as the Informal Settlements and Backyarder Department will continue to go above and beyond the call of duty to see that this project is concluded successfully.</p><p>Earlier in the week, on Thursday 14 February, a milestone was reached with the switching on of electricity for the first of more than 600 homes in RR Section in Khayelitsha as part of the first phase of this project. The electrification project, which will see 3 000 dwellings connected to the power grid, comes after some years of planning, community engagement and hard graft.</p><p>Initially, the project required informal structures to be relocated to enable the electrification work to proceed. This was an immense task and was necessary to enable Eskom to get sufficient access to install the services. Part of the informal settlement is situated on Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) land, while the other part is situated on City-owned land. The City initially approached Prasa and Eskom to request the electrification of this area.</p><p>The partnership between Prasa, the City and Eskom is resulting in tangible positive change. The City thanks Eskom for all of the hard work and dedication that has gone into this electrification project which will benefit a number of informal settlements in the area.</p><p>There are areas in Cape Town which are supplied by the City and areas which are supplied by Eskom. Electrification in City supply areas is above 97%.</p><p>Permanent electricity services cannot be installed in cases where, for instance, residents live under power lines or on railway/road reserves, or where the land is uninhabitable such as settlements formed on wetlands, floodplains or other water bodies; where residents have settled on privately-owned land; or where no permission exists for the City to install such basic services, among others.</p><p>End</p> | 2019-02-18T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
| Cape Town’s boat builders make waves | Statement by Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Opportunities and Asset Management, Alderman James Vos. | <p>In 2014, Cape Town and the Western Cape generated over R1 billion in export revenue from boat building. Cape Town’s boat building industry is known globally for its world-class craftsmanship, innovative and custom-made designs.</p>
<figure class="subtopic-fullsize-img">
<img class="responsive" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Centre/Mayor%20Dan%20Plato_2.jpg" alt="" style="width:948px;" /></figure>
<p>South Africa’s marine manufacturing industry is primarily based in Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and Durban. However, other areas within the Western Cape such as Knysna, George and Saldanha also make a significant contribution to the province’s dynamic boat building community.</p><p>What sets the local Cape Town manufacturers apart from their counterparts is that they are easy to deal with as one-stop-shops and work with their clients to ensure they get the maximum return on investment.</p><p>This year, five of the top boat builders from South Africa were present at the Miami International Boat Show that attracted over 100 000 visitors and showcased more than 1 400 boats and 1 100 exhibitors over the course of the five-day expo.</p><p>On the side-lines of the boat show, on Friday 15 February 2019, the Miami-Dade County’s Beacon Council hosted a special business roundtable discussion focusing on business opportunities in Cape Town. Incidentally, the City of Cape Town and Miami-Dade County are sister cities.</p><p>Business representatives from the energy efficiency, clothing and textiles, financial services, legal advisory, manufacturing, project finance, film and media, arts and culture, and the travel and tourism sectors attended the roundtable discussion.</p><p>The Florida delegation included businesses that would like to import products from South Africa to the USA; while other representatives were interested in setting up companies in Cape Town.</p><p>I am excited to confirm that the discussions concluded with Desmond Alufohai, senior international trade coordinator for Miami-Dade County, announcing to business leaders that there would be a follow-up mission to Cape Town in March this year. We look forward to hosting the business delegation next month; and welcoming mutually beneficial business partnerships in the future.</p><p>Cape Town’s boatbuilding industry is a key strategic sector to the city’s economy that attracts a positive trade balance and creates thousands of jobs.</p><p>Another benefit for South African boat building is the large workforce of skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled labour who have a wealth of experience, having been in the industry for a long time. </p><p>‘Cape Town’s boat building sector is without question a key contributor to our economy, and plays a significant role in job creation and skills development for our communities. I am pleased to see my Mayoral Committee Member and his management team focusing on this sector, which will attract even more investment in the enabling business environment we have created in this city,’ said Executive Mayor Dan Plato.</p>
<figure class="subtopic-fullsize-img">
<img class="responsive" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Centre/Mayor%20Dan%20Plato_1.jpg" alt="" style="width:948px;" /></figure>
<p>Cape Town also has a steady stream of well-trained artisans entering the boat building industry that provides a continuous flow of young people into the skills pipeline. Training colleges work hand-in-hand with the industry to offer a three-year, full-time course. In addition, six months of each year are spent at the academy to acquire theoretical knowledge followed by a six-month stint in the industry to gain industrial experience and on-the-job training.</p><p>Students are exposed to a wide range of disciplines including design, marine joinery, fibreglass or polymer composite fabrication, metalwork and welding, marine systems, computer-aided drawing (AutoCAD), and boat building standards.</p><p>South Africa has 3 000 km of coastline, and since 2014 has secured investments worth R30 billion and created over 7 000 direct jobs in the oceans economy. The investments have been mainly in infrastructure development, marine manufacturing, aquaculture, and the oil and gas sector.</p><p>It is estimated that government will investment approximately R3,8 billion in the Oceans Economy with the private sector contributing some R65 billion over the next five years. These investments are expected to create over 100 000 direct jobs and more than 250 000 indirect jobs.</p>
<figure class="subtopic-fullsize-img"><img class="responsive" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Centre/Mayor%20Dan%20Plato_3.jpg" alt="" style="width:951px;" /></figure><p>Invest Cape Town partnered with the South African Embassy and the South African Boat Builders’ Export Council (SABBEX) to showcase some of the best manufacturing from Cape Town and South Africa on a water float.</p><p>The delegation representing the City at this event comprised the City’s Head of Sectors, Investment and Trade, the Head of Investment Promotion as well as a Green Cape representative.<br></p><p>I am proud to build on our track record of being one of the top catamaran producing countries in the world. The City, through its Invest Cape Town initiative, will collaborate with partners from business formations, investment promotion agencies like Wesgro and sector support entities, and all spheres of government to expand the boat building footprint in Cape Town.</p><p>The Invest Cape Town team offers a wide range of customized services free of charge for any stage of business you are in. </p><p>
<strong>End</strong></p> | 2019-02-18T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
| Earthy tasting water remains safe to drink | The City of Cape Town would like to reassure residents who have detected an earthy flavour to their tap water that it remains safe to drink. | <p>It must be emphasised that geosmin poses no threat to human health. It is a naturally occurring organic compound and is responsible for the earthy taste of beetroot and the scent that occurs in the air when rain falls after a dry spell. The compound is sometimes present in water, particularly during periods of hot weather, and even minute concentrations of a few parts per trillion can be detected by the human palate. </p><p>The City of Cape Town advises residents that we are currently experiencing high levels of geosmin in our raw water supply from the Theewaterskloof Dam. This is affecting the taste and smell of the water supplied from the Blackheath Water Treatment Plant to the central and south-eastern parts of Cape Town. </p><p>The City is currently dosing powdered activated carbon during the water treatment process to reduce the effect of the geosmin. However, it may take some time for the taste and smell of the water to normalise.</p><p><strong>End</strong></p> | 2019-02-18T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
| Armed Forces Day celebrates South African National Defence Force personnel | The City of Cape Town is proud to welcome the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and visitors to the city for the annual Armed Forces Day. | <p>The City of Cape Town is proud to welcome the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and visitors to the city for the annual Armed Forces Day.</p><p>This is the first time in the history of Armed Forces Day that the event will be commemorated in Cape Town. </p><p>The City is supporting the SANDF with services and making its venues available to host the various events from 16 to 22 February 2019. </p><p>The events are aimed at celebrating the commitment shown by the men and women serving and those who have served in the SANDF as well as to commemorate the sinking of the SS Mendi on 21 February 1917.</p><p>It will also honour those men and women who have laid down their lives in the line of duty.</p><p>Personnel from the South African Army, Air Force, Navy, and the Military Health Services will participate in fitness drills, conduct shooting exercises and have exhibitions that showcase the latest military equipment and technologies used to protect the country.</p><p>The festivities kicked off over the weekend with 5 and 10 kilometre races on the Sea Point Promenade and the first SANDF Open Day (Fan Park) at the Mandela Park Stadium in Khayelitsha. </p><p>The Open Days, which run from 16 to 19 February, will also include a career exhibition and recruitment drive to encourage more people to join the armed forces.</p><p><strong>Other events include:</strong> </p><ul><li><div style="text-align:left;">Gala concert at City Hall – Monday 18 February (19:00)</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Night shoot at Sunrise Beach, Muizenberg – Tuesday 19 February (19:30 and 21:00) </div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Wreath-laying ceremony at SS Mendi Memorial, UCT - Thursday 21 February (09:00) </div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Parade at Table View Beach, Blaauwberg and capability demo - Thursday 21 February (10:00 – 14:30)</div></li></ul><p>Members of the public are encouraged to attend the events to interact with members of the SANDF, and gain a better understanding of the military’s role in society.</p><p>The men and women of the SANDF stand ready to defend the borders of the Republic, as well as the values enshrined in our Constitution. </p><p>Many of them are also involved in peace-keeping missions beyond our borders. </p><p>The City wishes the SANDF every success with the events they have organised to celebrate Armed Forces Day. I hope that the people of Cape Town will support them and make use of this unique opportunity to celebrate our men and women in uniform.</p><p><br><strong>End</strong></p> | 2019-02-17T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
