| Cameras assist in cable theft clampdown | The fight against cable theft is ongoing and the impact is far reaching. Criminals do not see the families who are left without electricity | <p></p><span><p>‘The fight against cable theft is ongoing and the impact is far reaching. Criminals do not see the families who are left without electricity, they have no sympathy for the students who cannot study after cable theft disables computers and they clearly have scant regard for the lives and livelihoods that could be lost because of exposed wires or the impact on public transport or otherwise affected infrastructure,’ said the City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.</p><p>The Metro Police Strategic Surveillance Unit oversees nearly 850 CCTV cameras across the metropole, excluding cameras monitoring the freeways and transport routes and interchanges.</p>
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<img class="responsive" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Centre/mpd%20steal1.jpg" alt="" /> </figure></span><span><p>From January to May this year SSU detected 72 cable theft incidents in the CCTV footprint compared to the previous year where 92 incidents were detected during the same time frame.</p><p>Most of the incidents occurred in May when 23 were detected which is an exponential increase compared to the previous year when three incidents were detected.</p><p>‘So far this year eight people have been arrested for cable theft, compared to a total of 13 for the entire 2020, and this is partly due to an increase in the number of camera installations. The cameras play an important role in the early detection of criminal behaviour and enable us to respond faster when criminal activity is detected. Officers are often able to catch the criminals red handed because of an alert by the CCTV control room, preventing further damage to infrastructure, ' said Alderman Smith.</p><p>While cable theft is rife across the city, the hotspots include Belhar, Manenberg, Khayelitsha and Woodstock.</p>
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<img class="responsive" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Centre/MPD%20steal2.jpg" alt="" /> </figure></span><span><p>The most incidents occur on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday with the highest frequency of incidents is occurring during 18:00 to 21:00 and 0:00 to 03:00 during the night.<br>‘Cable thieves clearly operate at a time when they think no one is watching. Knowing big brother is watching may deter some thieves and extends our enforcement footprint,’ added Alderman Smith.<br>The recorded footage can be shared with SAPS for the purposes of their investigations and gives an unbiased look at incidents where there may not be any other information or witness accounts. </p><p>Strict measures are in place to ensure the chain of custody is preserved in the handing over of footage.<br></p>
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<img class="responsive" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Centre/mpd%20steal3.jpg" alt="" /></figure></span><p>Residents can report vandalism of City infrastructure to the City’s Call Centre on 0860 103 089 or call 107 contact number (021 480 7700). Members of the public can report cable theft or provide tip-offs to the Metals Theft Unit control room on 0800 222 771 or 021 400 2828.</p><p><br><strong>End</strong><br> </p><span><figure class="subtopic-fullsize-img"> </figure></span><span></span><span></span> | 2021-06-23T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
| City’s Ravensmead Park upgrade project on track | The City of Cape Town’s Ravensmead Park upgrade project is progressing well | <span><p>The incremental upgrade project will provide much relief to the residents of the Ravensmead Park informal settlement, as 51 housing opportunities will be created through this project. This upgrade project includes formalised roads, and an internal water supply, including erf connections and internal sewer infrastructure. The Ravenmead Park project uses Alternative Building Technologies such as the Greenlite Block. The Greenlite building block is a light weight block and is easy to use during construction.</p>
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<img class="responsive" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Centre/Ravensmead32.jpg" alt="" style="width:949px;" /> </figure></span><span><p>‘We are pleased with the Ravensmead Park upgrade project progress thus far, and we are excited that it will be completed by August 2022, if all goes according to plan. The project has various phased development stages, and the next phase can only commence once the beneficiaries are relocated from their current informal structures into their newly constructed homes.<br> <br>‘The project will improve the living conditions of the residents. The City will ensure that the opportunities will accommodate the disabled and visually impaired residents from Ravensmead Park. In addition, each household will receive either a title deed or tenure certificate once the upgrade project has been completed.<br> <br>‘We remain committed to enabling opportunities and to improving the lives of the most vulnerable residents in the metro. We thank the community, City teams and contractors for the hard work and dedication on this project which will provide beneficiaries with their opportunities in the near future,’ said Councillor Malusi Booi. </p>
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<img class="responsive" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Centre/Ravensmead11.jpg" alt="" style="width:949px;" /> </figure></span><span><p>The City is increasingly looking at innovative, partnership-driven projects to enable the delivery of affordable accommodation by using various types of housing and accommodation. This is necessary to address the growing demand for affordable housing in Cape Town, as with other urban centres across South Africa. </p><p>The City’s new Human Settlements Strategy is a blueprint for the changes that are required in the housing regime to enable the larger scale delivery of affordable housing for those earning less than R22 000 per month. </p><p><strong>Read more here: </strong><a href="http://bit.ly/CCT-HSStrategy" target="_blank"><strong>http://bit.ly/CCT-HSStrategy</strong></a></p><p>Anonymous tip-offs welcomed to safeguard projects from unlawful occupation:<br>Residents can give anonymous tip offs if they are aware of illegal activity that is taking place; that has happened or is still to happen. Please call 112 from a cell phone (toll free) and 107 from a landline or 021 480 7700 for emergencies.</p>
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<img class="responsive" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Centre/Ravensmead22.jpg" alt="" style="width:949px;" /></figure></span><p>Captions<br>Photo 1: Mayoral Committee Member for Human Settlements, Councillor Malusi Booi and Councillor Beverley Van Reenen at the Ravensmead upgrade project.</p><p><br>End</p><span><figure class="subtopic-fullsize-img"> </figure></span><span></span><span></span> | 2021-06-23T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
| City invests in CCTV and Wi-FI services at Hanover Park PTI | The City has invested four million rand in the installation of this infrastructure at the Hanover Park PTI in its efforts to improve the commuting experience for residents | <p></p><span><p>The City has invested four million rand in the installation of this infrastructure at the Hanover Park PTI in its efforts to improve the commuting experience for residents and to assist in creating a safer environment at the facility and the surrounding area. </p><p>‘I am pleased to see the progress the City’s Transport Shared Services team has managed to achieve over the last two weeks. If all goes according to plan commuters in Hanover Park will have access to Wi-Fi while on the premises of the PTI in July,’</p><p>‘The newly-installed CCTV infrastructure will surely assist in our efforts to provide a safer facility and area for all. These cameras will also assist to pick up number plates, once operational in July,’ said the City’s Executive Mayor, Alderman Dan Plato.<br></p>
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<img class="responsive" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Centre/hanover%20park%20wifi2.jpg" alt="" style="width:948px;" /> </figure></span><span><p>In total, the City has invested R60 million in the programme for the current financial year ending 30 June 2021. The proposed estimated budget for the roll-out these upgrades at other PTI’s across the City in the 2021/’22 financial year amounts to R38,5 million. </p><p><strong>Thus far the following PTIs have been upgraded with CCTV infrastructure and Wi-Fi services:</strong></p><ul><li><div style="text-align:left;">Cape Town Station Deck</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Mitchells Plain Main and South</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Joe Gqabi</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Kuwait (Nolungile)</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Kuyasa</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Bellville</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Wallacedene</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Durbanville</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Potsdam</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Grassy Park</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Athlone</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Wynberg</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Claremont</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Mowbray</div></li></ul><p><strong>The following PTIs have been prioritised for upgrades soon:</strong></p><ul><li><div style="text-align:left;">Dunoon</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Makhaza</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Nonqubela</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Kuils River</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Langa <br></div></li></ul>
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<img class="responsive" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Centre/hanoverpark%20wifi1.jpg" alt="" style="width:2201px;" /> </figure></span><span></span> | 2021-06-23T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
| City of Cape Town-funded WISP initiative good for people and the planet | WISP is a City of Cape Town-funded platform facilitated free of charge to businesses by our Special Business Partner | <p> </p><span><p>A few days ago, I had the opportunity to see how businesses are reaping the rewards of the Western Cape Industrial Symbiosis Programme (WISP), an initiative that demonstrates environmental and socio-economic sustainability. </p><p>WISP is a City of Cape Town-funded platform facilitated free of charge to businesses by our Special Business Partner, GreenCape. Under this programme, GreenCape develops mutually profitable links between companies from all industrial sectors, so that under-utilised and waste resources from one company can be recovered, reprocessed and re-used by others. </p><p>It’s a solution that allows participating businesses to cut costs, improve processes, create new revenue streams and job opportunities, all while positively impacting the environment through the re-purposing of waste. </p>
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<img class="responsive" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Centre/WISP11.jpg" alt="" style="width:1069px;" /> </figure></span><span><p>I was able to see this in action when I visited Siyavana Solutions, a small business in Bellville that service the oil and petroleum industry. </p><p>Under WISP, GreenCape identified that the business could develop an upcycling solution for decommissioned fuel pumps at energy giant, Shell Petroleum Company. Siyavana refurbishes the pumps, then resells them to Shell at a reduced cost. </p><p>Thus far, the project has generated R4 million per year in additional revenue and nine new jobs, all while diverting tonnes of waste from landfills. </p><p>This is a perfect example of innovative solutions that benefit both people and the planet. </p><p><strong>In fact, since the start of WISP in 2013:</strong></p><ul><li><div style="text-align:left;">Over R120 million have been generated in financial benefits through additional revenue, cost savings and private investments.</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Roughly 105 000 tonnes of waste have been diverted from landfills;</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">69 permanent jobs have been created in member companies, 25 temporary positions made available, and 218 economy-wide jobs in supply chains have been created; and</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">309 000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions have been saved. This is the equivalent of the annual electricity usage of 83 340 households in South Africa.</div></li></ul>
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<img class="responsive" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Centre/WISP22.jpg" alt="" style="width:1069px;" /> </figure></span><span><p>And there is far more to gain. According to the Department of Environmental Affairs, Forestry and Fisheries, South Africa’s ‘waste economy’ has the potential to contribute R11.5 billion per year to GDP, create 127 000 additional jobs and 4 300 new SMMEs.</p><p>A more sustainable future depends on programmes such as WISP and I look forward to seeing it expand to the benefit of all in Cape Town. </p><p>To find out how your company can benefit from WISP, contact GreenCape at <a href="mailto:info@greencape.co.za">info@greencape.co.za</a> or visit their website here. <br></p>
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<img class="responsive" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Centre/WISP33.jpg" alt="" style="width:1069px;" /> </figure><strong>End</strong></span><span></span><span></span> | 2021-06-23T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
