| City’s Driving Licence Testing Centres committed to service delivery | Driving Licence Testing Centres tackling backlog created by lockdown. | <p>The City’s 18 DLTCs started reopening from June last year , after being closed to the public in terms of the national COVID-19 lockdown. During the latter part of last year, numerous centres have had to suspend operations. </p><p>All the backlogs created by the hard lockdown last year have been cleared and the DLTCs are currently offering full services for all applications. New backlogs are unfortunately created each time a DLTC has to close due to COVID-19 exposure of staff. To increase capacity at the DLTCs, the City of Cape Town this week approved additional funding of R10.8 million on the adjustment budget, to assist with the extension of operational hours to deal with the increase in demand.</p><p>‘Our officers had to deal with all the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, but they are committed to service delivery and are doing their level best to assist all applicants. The centres re-opened in August last year and the focus at the time was to prioritise the backlog and although some centres had limited capacity, officers provided the best possible service under difficult circumstances ,' said the Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.<br> <br>The basket of services available to the public at DLTCs include renewal of driving licences, applications for learner and driver licences, foreign driving licence conversions, renewal of Professional Driving Permits (PrDPs) and applications for duplicate learner licences.</p><p>The amount of transactions processed for the last four months of 2020 included:</p><ul><li>Learners licence applications – 56 742</li><li>Driving licence applications – 41 174</li><li>Learners licences issued – 35 336</li><li>Temporary driving licences issued– 58 650</li><li>PrDPs applications – 18 149</li><li>Driving licence renewals – 98 232</li></ul><p>The public should note that there is still a possibility that some DLTCs could close due to staff members being exposed to COVID-19. In the event of a temporary closure, the staff have to vacate the building immediately and notify all those in the facility, including customers. The affected DLTC will be subjected to a deep clean and full sanitisation before reopening. All driver tests and learner appointments are then rescheduled with the applicants. It is therefore very important that the information on the application form is accurate.</p><p>The City’s Traffic Service receives a lot of questions with regards to cards that expired and extensions granted. The following applies; if a driving licence card, PrDP, temporary driving license and learners licence expired between 26 March 2020 and 31 December 2020, an automatic extension is granted until the 31 August 2021.</p><p>‘The City is very much aware of requests for online applications, especially as residents steer away from crowded places and prefer to do online transactions as far as possible. In this regard, the City is waiting on approval from the Western Cape Provincial Administration regarding online applications for learners and driving licence appointments,’ said Alderman Smith. <br> <br>There is no online system for the renewal of a driving licence card. The driving licence renewal must still be done in person.<br> <br>The Western Cape Provincial Government and National Government have indicated a rollout of a pilot project with the City as soon as the challenges with the implementation of a online system are ironed out. </p><p>All the DLTCs are open during the week from 08:00 – 15:30. Saturday operating times are from 08:00 – 12:30. DLTCs at Somerset West, Goodwood, Parow, Milnerton, Fish Hoek and Gallows Hill further extended operating hours with Hillstar and New Ottery open on a Sunday from 08:00 – 12:00. The City’s Traffic Service will publish an updated list once confirmed.</p><p>For a list of DLTCs and the relevant contact details please visit: <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/see-all-city-facilities/our-service-facilities/Drivers%20licence%20testing%20centres">https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/see-all-city-facilities/our-service-facilities/Drivers%20licence%20testing%20centres</a><br> <br> <br> End</p> | 2021-01-20T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
| Government relief for businesses and employees should be extended to help save jobs | STATEMENT BY THE CITY’S MAYORAL COMMITTEE MEMBER FOR ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES AND ASSET MANAGEMENT, ALDERMAN JAMES VOS.
| <p>The COVID-19 TERS scheme came to an end on 15 October 2020, which does not take into account the implementation of further lockdowns. </p><p>Alert Level 3 currently prevents the sale and transportation of alcohol, bringing many businesses to a complete halt. Other businesses in the hospitality industry specifically are faced with reduced operating hours due to the early curfew of 21:00.</p><p>These restrictions have brought businesses to their knees and this is why the TERS should be extended, to ensure that businesses are able to stay afloat, retain their employees and reopen when lockdown restrictions are lifted.</p><p>I have already written to Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, to make the case for changing the curfew from 21:00 to 23:00 because every hour of trading is vital to the survival of many businesses across several sectors.</p><p>It is time Minister Nxesi extends the TERS in a bid to save what is left of business, which has been crippled by lockdown restrictions.</p><p><br>End<br></p> | 2021-01-20T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
| Vandalism, attacks on City staff impact service to residents | | | 2021-01-20T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | <p>In recent months, the City has seen a significant increase in vandalism and damage to its electrical infrastructure in some areas, and attacks on City staff and contractors continue. Contractors are also becoming increasingly reluctant to tender for work in some parts of the metro due to the safety concerns. Although the City remains utterly committed to service delivery, the safety of our staff and contractors that are servicing our communities through basic service provision remains of utmost consideration. </p><p>Hotspot areas are being monitored where resources allow. We encourage residents to report incidents to the South African Police Service, because enforcement responses cannot be activated if the law enforcers are not aware that a problem exists. </p><p>The City’s Electricity Generation and Distribution Department has spent R 4,6 million between July 2020 and December 2020 to replace and repair damaged and stolen infrastructure in Area South, which has been severely affected. Area South includes Phillippi, Mitchells Plain, Muizenberg, and Wynberg.</p><p>‘We cannot allow the vandalism and damage of our electrical infrastructure to continue, as this not only negatively impacts our residents, but also the public purse. Money that can be spent on other projects to improve the lives of residents has to be redirected to fix what is being destroyed. We appeal to members of the public to make a difference and assist the City by reporting any suspicious activities near electricity infrastructure.</p><p>‘City management continues to look at the situation on a daily basis and is investigating any further possible options, such as the deployment of enhanced security escorts that are in action already. However, the safety of City staff and contractors that are servicing our communities remains a top priority. Electricity services will not be rendered to some areas until it is deemed safe enough to do so and if law enforcement or security escorts are available,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Energy and Climate Change, Councillor Phindile Maxiti. </p><p>The South African Police Service remains the lead authority in crime prevention.</p><p>Please note: Due to COVID-19, there are times when the regulations as well as COVID-19 positive staff cases will affect the operations of the Electricity Generation and Distribution Department. </p><p>Report damage to municipal electrical infrastructure:<br>SMS: 31220<br>Email: <a href="mailto:power@capetown.gov.za">power@capetown.gov.za</a> </p><p>Anonymous tip-offs welcomed:<br>Residents can give anonymous tip offs if they are aware of illegal activity, such as illegal connections or unlawful occupations, that are 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<br> </p><p>End</p> | |
| City's mobile library service to be phased out | Library and Information Service will be phased out in the coming months. | <p>'It is the end of the road for the City's mobile library service, which has a membership of about 3 000. The mobile service has been plagued with maintenance issues, and in the past financial year there were reduced or no services on 113 days due to the buses being serviced or having to be repaired,' said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Zahid Badroodien.</p><p>The service, which operates from a depot in Ndabeni, had a limited geographical reach and provided basic access to some library materials and photocopy services with very minimal programmes (such as storytelling and library orientation). </p><p>'The current fleet of three buses provided a service to 28 stops, mostly situated in the Southern Suburbs and City central. Of the fleet of three, two of the buses have more than 30 years of service with the third one being relatively new and in service since 2014. It is very unfortunate that we cannot continue the service due to factors such as the aging fleet,’ said Councillor Badroodien.</p><p>Patrons are requested to use the libraries in their vicinity.<br> <br>Currently there are 6 108 items still out on loan in the communities that these buses serve. </p><p>Since the lockdown from 27 March 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the buses have not been out to these communities, which has resulted in patrons still having the items out on loan. </p><p>Under the current circumstances, the buses are not able to go out to collect the outstanding items. Patrons are therefore urged to return their items to their nearest libraries so that these can be made available to other library users as well.</p><p><br>End</p> | 2021-01-20T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
