| Cape Town Summer Market to take on new approach this year | The pandemic’s effect on the informal trading sector under national lockdown Level 5 necessitated the need to find innovative ways to ensure that traders are able to access economic opportunities safely | <p>Many Capetonians and regular visitors to the City are familiar with this annual market, which was launched 22 years ago, under the Adderley Street lights, but it has since found a new home at the Company’s Garden.</p><p>Last year, the City’s first ever piloted online Summer Market was held virtually and at the Green Point Urban Park due to the applicable Covid-19 lockdown restrictions at the time. </p><p>Over 120 vendors were showcased on the online market, where they were able to sell a variety of goods virtually. The market was well supported by customers nationwide and positive feedback was received in terms of how quickly the goods were delivered and the quality of the products. </p><p>‘The pandemic’s effect on the informal trading sector under national lockdown Level 5 necessitated the need to find innovative ways to ensure that traders are able to access economic opportunities safely and in a Covid-19 compliant manner. In light of this, the format of the market had to be changed from a purely physical event to a hybrid format, which includes both the physical Cape Town Summer market and the Cape Town Online market. A hybrid implementation of the event will comprise of a live event adhering to the Covid-19 protocols,’ said Grant Twigg, Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Management.</p><p>The online market will operate from 1 December 2021 to 31 December 2021 at <a href="http://www.capetownonlinemarket.co.za/" target="_blank">www.capetownonlinemarket.co.za</a> </p><p>It is anticipated that a total of 200 vendors will be hosted on this platform, which is a City initiative. The virtual market is available to Cape Town based vendors and aims to support small businesses to sell their products online. The cost for participation on the online market is R336,10. </p><p>Vendor applications for the online and physical market opened on 16 November 2021 and will close on 6 December 2021 at 13:00. Vendors can apply for the Cape Town Online Market at the following link: <a href="https://bit.ly/get-docs" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/get-docs</a> . </p><p>Vendors will be able to upload all their required documentation and those who wish to make their applications in person can submit their documentation to the Area Economic Development, Area North Office, Ground floor, 44 Wale Street, Cape Town. Applications for the physical market will cost R107,20 per day for the duration of the three days. For the physical event, some of the market activities include live entertainment, car park off, young entrepreneurs market, super Sunday specials and half-price kiddie carnival rides. <br> <br>‘Our role is to provide an enabling environment for the informal sector to do business and the Summer Market does just that. Through the market, our people will be able to supplement their income and sustain their livelihoods over the festive period. This also contributes to economic recovery and Cape Town CBD revitalisation. It will also play a part in the stimulation of the night economy in the CBD,’ said Alderman Twigg. </p><p><strong>For further information, enquiries can be directed to</strong></p><ul><li><div style="text-align:left;">Email: <a href="mailto:ctom@zafanzone.co.za" target="_blank">ctom@zafanzone.co.za</a></div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Whatsapp only line: 062 125 2404</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Informal trading call centre: 021 400 3131, Option 6</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Visit: <a href="mailto:informal.trading@capetown.gov.za" target="_blank">informal.trading@capetown.gov.za</a> or <a href="mailto:informal.economy@capetown.gov.za" target="_blank">informal.economy@capetown.gov.za</a> </div></li></ul><p><br><strong>End</strong><br></p> | 2021-11-29T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
| Making the City more accessible and responsive to residents | As the new political head of this directorate, I will be prioritising areas for improvement and excellence to make sure we meet and exceed the very high service delivery standards of residents and the business community | <p>About 27 800 people are employed by the City of Cape Town. They count among the most skilful, experienced and professional public servants in South Africa. They serve residents with dedication and enthusiasm, regardless whether it is to fix an electricity outage after hours, to restore a water main in gusting winds and pouring rain, or to answer the phone when you need assistance. </p><p>However, as is the case with everything in life, there is always room for improvement. </p><p>As the new political head of this directorate, I will be prioritising areas for improvement and excellence to make sure we meet and exceed the very high service delivery standards of residents and the business community. </p><p>The Directorate for Corporate Services can be described as the administration’s nerve centre – it enables the City to be responsive and adaptable; provides support to other directorates to deliver on their mandates through the development of policies and data analysis, and serves as the hub for innovation, and information and knowledge management.</p><p>During my term of office, I will be focusing on improving our interaction with residents; to make the administration more accessible, responsive and accountable; and to raise the bar for a professional public service.</p><p>First off: it should be easy and convenient for residents to contact the City when they need us – be it in person, on the phone, email, sms or through the City’s website to report faults, or log service requests. We have made great strides thus far, but we need to do more to keep residents informed about the progress with resolving faults or requests. </p><p>Earlier this year, the City improved its Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system so that residents can receive regular status updates about their service requests. Since June 2021, residents have been receiving status updates via SMS or email to inform them what is happening with a service request they have logged with the City – be it a pothole, electricity outage, water supply disruption, a malfunctioning streetlight or traffic signal, sewage, damaged wheelie bin, illegal dumping, flooding, or a building work complaint. We are now finalising service level agreements with the different City departments. Meaning, there will be a service standard for each complaint: a commitment if you will, from the City to repair or attend to a complaint – depending on what it is, within a specific time.</p><p>With regular feedback, residents are more at peace, knowing their complaint or service request is receiving attention from dedicated teams on the ground. Regular communication is pivotal in fostering a relationship of trust with residents.</p><p>Secondly, all of the great cities around the globe are built on collaboration. For collaboration to be effective, we need to be honest about our challenges so that residents can join us in our efforts. </p><p>We cannot do this task on our own. The City needs the 4,5 million Capetonians to be our eyes and ears on the ground, to report faults, vandalism, and theft, and to bring us bright ideas and solutions. The City has a Collaboration Platform (<a href="http://www.capetown.gov.za/ideas" target="_blank">http://www.capetown.gov.za/ideas</a>) in April 2021, to promote innovative, design-led approaches to service delivery and effective engagement with our customers on matters that affect them.</p><p>Great ideas can come from a variety of sources, from employees to residents, businesses, NGOs, and civil society. So, we have created the City of Cape Town Collaboration Platform to gather useful information, ideas and solutions to help us deliver the best service to our citizens. Once registered on this platform, members can submit their ideas and track how these are prioritised. Members can also interact on the platform by commenting on, and voting for the ideas submitted by others.</p><p>Solutions and ideas can cover any of the City’s services, including water and sanitation, energy and housing, parks and recreation, transport and safety. The main objective of this platform is to facilitate creative problem solving, make smarter use of limited resources and further enhance decision making.</p><p>I want to encourage residents to register and participate.</p><p>Cape Town is becoming more and more resilient. The City approved its first ever Resilience Strategy in August 2019 – only the third City in Africa to do so. We have seen during the drought in 2017 how resilient Capetonians can be. But we need to become more prepared to weather unexpected storms such as the Covid-19 pandemic. </p><p>The City’s Resilience Strategy is our roadmap to strengthen the administration and residents against sudden shocks, from storms and heat waves, to cyber-attacks, global financial crisis and other unforeseen challenges. We keep on improving on the strategy to ensure we strengthen the capacity of individuals, communities, institutions, business and systems within Cape Town to survive, adapt and thrive no matter what kind of chronic stresses and shocks we experience. </p><p>The lessons we are learning from the Covid-19 pandemic will be absorbed into the Resilience Strategy, key of which is adaptive management, reflective learning and the use of data for resilient decision-making.</p><p>Then there is the commitment to assist residents, in particular young people, with internships and other work-related opportunities at the City to acquire skills and to learn from some of the best officials in the country. These professionals, employed by the City of Cape Town, are experts in their fields and they have a wealth of knowledge and experience they can share with the youth who will make Cape Town even better in the future.</p><p>I have announced on Friday last week that the applications for various skills development and training opportunities at the City are now open. These are golden opportunities for graduate students, those with a Grade 9/10/11 or National Senior Certificate, students who need to integrate academic learning with application in the work place to obtain a formal qualification, and Engineering and Science graduates in the scarce skills categories.</p><p>I am looking forward to working together with City officials and residents over the next five years. </p><p>Cape Town is one of the best cities, if not the best in the world, to live work and play. We are hopeful for a bright and inclusive future where all have access to opportunities, are safe, and being cared for.</p><p><br><strong>End</strong><br></p> | 2021-11-29T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
| Top marks for City's climate reporting and action | The CDP annually scores cities from A to D based on their climate change response disclosure | <p>The CDP annually scores cities from A to D based on their climate change response disclosure. The score indicates how effectively cities are managing, measuring and tackling greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate risks.</p><p>‘The City is proud to be one of only 95 international cities to have been awarded top marks. We can only take real action when we know what the situation is. By reporting climate data through the CDP each year, Cape Town is transparent about its climate action, tracking progress, monitoring risks and benchmarking against other cities facing similar challenges. The climate is changing and so must we. By changing the way we consume, produce, go about our daily lives and interact with and support one another, we can make our city and households more resilient to the changing climate and reduce the harmful actions that are causing climate change,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Energy and Climate Change, Councillor Beverley van Reenen. </p><p>For more information on the CDP cities initiative, please visit <a href="https://www.cdp.net/en/cities/cities-scores" target="_blank">https://www.cdp.net/en/cities/cities-scores</a></p><p><strong>How climate change is affecting Cape Town</strong></p><ul><li><div style="text-align:left;">Decreasing levels of average annual rainfall and changing seasonality of rainfall, which affects the amount of water to which we have access.</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">An increase in the average annual temperature and increased maximum temperatures, which means an increase in hotter days, and more frequent and intense heat waves.</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">An increase in the average wind and maximum wind strength.</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Rising sea levels and increased coastal erosion.</div></li></ul><p> <br><strong>What we need to do to tackle climate change </strong><br>In support of the growing global momentum to tackle climate change, Cape Town, along with cities in South Africa and worldwide, has committed to working to achieve carbon neutrality and climate resilience by 2050. Importantly, reducing global warming is key. These necessary targets can only be reached through significant transitions in urban form, energy sources, transportation and resource efficiency.<br> <br><strong>What is carbon neutrality?</strong><br>Carbon neutrality means introducing new technologies to clean up the fuels and activities that cause greenhouse gas emissions and global warming, while enhancing our social, economic and environmental goals. Read more about the City’s Carbon Neutral 2050 commitment.<br> <br><strong>What is the City doing?</strong><br>We have committed to achieving the goal of carbon neutrality and climate resilience by 2050. This commitment is embedded in our new Climate Change Strategy that sets the pathway towards this goal. The City’s new Climate Change Action Plan details the actions required to fulfil this strategic vision.<br> <br>The City has in place a range of programmes that support climate change adaptation, mitigation and climate resilience, and is working towards significantly growing these. <br> <br><strong>Adaptation</strong><br>In the adaptation and resilience work area, projects include: </p><ul><li><div style="text-align:left;">developing our water resilience</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">conserving our biodiversity and protecting coastal areas</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">enabling appropriate nodal development through the adoption of a coastal urban edge</div></li></ul><p> <br><strong>Mitigation </strong><br>To reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, our mitigation efforts include:</p><ul><li><div style="text-align:left;">driving energy efficiency in our own municipal operations</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">shaping regulatory and incentive mechanisms to support net zero carbon buildings</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">developing our own clean energy generation </div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">procuring energy from Independent Power Producers (IPPs)</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">enabling small scale embedded generation (SSEG)</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">waste reduction</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">building an efficient transport network</div></li></ul><p> <br><strong>Resources</strong></p><ul><li><div style="text-align:left;">Climate Change Action Plan and Summary: <a href="http://www.capetown.gov.za/ClimateChange" target="_blank">www.capetown.gov.za/ClimateChange</a></div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Smart Living Handbook: <a href="https://bit.ly/Smartliving2020" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/Smartliving2020</a></div></li></ul><p><br><strong>End</strong></p> | 2021-11-29T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
| Vaccines key to navigating a fourth wave of Covid-19 | The City of Cape Town’s healthcare practitioners are preparing for a fourth wave of Covid-19 infections | <p></p><p>The City of Cape Town’s healthcare practitioners are preparing for a fourth wave of Covid-19 infections, in conjunction with their provincial and national partners.</p><p>Confirmation of a new variant has put everyone on high alert, particularly as scientists are not yet certain about how transmissible Omicron is, and whether it will result in more severe disease.</p><p>Until more information becomes available, City Health will continue supporting the broader Covid-19 response by vaccinating as many individuals as possible. Vaccine efforts have shifted from facility based to increased pop up and outreach sites, as well as participating in the national Vooma vaccination weekends. </p><p>To address low vaccination rates in the Khayelitsha and Mitchell’s Plain subdistricts, City Health and its partners have also started collaborating with local community leaders and businesses to try and reach out to those who are not vaccinated. </p><p>‘A year ago we faced a second wave of infections, and now, once more, another wave appears imminent. The difference is that we have vaccines available to us this time around, so there is a measure of protection that we can get for ourselves and our loved ones. Data released by the national health department this week shows that most of those hospitalised with Covid-19 currently, are unvaccinated persons. It is crucial that we work with the facts at hand and steer clear of continued fearmongering around the safety of the vaccines,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Patricia van der Ross.</p><p>Between 1 and 23 November 2021, the City’s Environmental Health Practitioners inspected 3 869 premises for compliance with Covid-19 protocols. </p><p>Staff found 98% of premises to be compliant, with legal action instituted against 40 of the 62 that were non-compliant.</p><p><strong>Key reasons for non-compliance include:</strong></p><ul><li><div style="text-align:left;">No Covid-19 screening at some restaurants and other businesses</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Client screening temperatures not documented</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">No social distancing at funeral gatherings</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Generally not wearing masks by shop managers, staff and customers</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Some ECD staff members not wearing masks and no screening records for children in their care</div></li></ul><p>‘While the compliance rate is to be commended, it is disappointing to hear that some businesses are not adhering to the protocols. Even in communities, there have been increasing reports of non-compliance with mask wearing and social distancing. We are heading into the year-end holiday period, which traditionally is a time for shopping, celebrations and gatherings. My appeal to the public is to please avoid indoor gatherings as far as possible and to avoid crowds. We can do without super-spreader events. I understand that pandemic fatigue is real, but we cannot afford to let our guard down,’ added Councillor van der Ross. </p><p> <br><strong>End</strong><br></p> | 2021-11-29T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
